Sports Recorder |By Solomon OKPO
Nigeria’s Super Eagles fought hard to keep their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification hopes alive as they battled South Africa’s Bafana Bafana to a draw in a tense Group C clash in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
The result means Nigeria remain third in the group, six points adrift of leaders South Africa, who had hoped to extend their advantage following a dominant 3-0 win over Lesotho last week.
The Super Eagles, missing their talismanic striker Victor Osimhen due to an ankle injury, relied on Wolves forward Tolu Arokodare to lead the line after his decisive goal against Rwanda in the previous outing. However, the Nigerian attack struggled to find a breakthrough against a resolute South African defense buoyed by home support.
For Bafana Bafana, the draw was a setback as victory would have stretched their lead to eight points and virtually sealed their qualification. Yet, they remain in pole position to secure a ticket to the World Cup.
The encounter was marked by end-to-end action, with both sides creating chances but lacking the clinical edge to tilt the balance. The Super Eagles’ disciplined defending ensured they avoided defeat, while the hosts were left frustrated at not turning dominance into maximum points.
Nigeria will now need to capitalize on their upcoming fixtures to close the gap in Group C, while South Africa remain in command but with work still to do to secure early qualification.
