Football, you beautiful, cruel game! The Super Eagles of Nigeria battled tooth and nail in Bloemfontein’s Free State Stadium, but had to settle for a 1-1 draw in this crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup Group C qualifier against South Africa. The first half set the stage perfectly: Bafana Bafana struck first via an own goal from William Troost-Ekong in the 25th minute, but Calvin Bassey’s towering header in the 44th brought parity. The second half saw no breakthroughs, leaving both sides sharing the spoils.
For Nigeria, this result edges them to 11 points after 8 matches, keeping them in fourth but level with Rwanda and Benin in the race for runner-up. South Africa stretches their lead to 17 points, but with games against Benin and Lesotho ahead, the Super Eagles must win out to secure a shot at the playoffs – remember, only the group winner qualifies directly, while second place offers a lifeline to further rounds. It’s not the victory we craved, but in the fiery spirit of African qualifiers, a point away from home keeps the fire burning. Onward, Nigeria!
