Bafana Bafana of South Africa forced the Super Eagles of Nigeria to a 1-1 draw on Tuesday evening at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein, leaving Nigeria’s hopes of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in jeopardy.
The hosts took the lead in the 25th minute when Nigeria captain William Troost-Ekong inadvertently turned the ball into his own net. The Super Eagles, however, responded just before the break, with defender Calvin Bassey heading home from a corner in the 44th minute to level the contest.
The result dents Nigeria’s qualification chances as they remain second in Group C. South Africa, meanwhile, strengthened their position at the top with 17 points from five wins, two draws, and one defeat.
Elsewhere in the group, Benin Republic and Lesotho—currently third and fifth respectively—were scheduled to play later on Tuesday, while Rwanda sit fourth. Zimbabwe remain bottom of the table with four draws and four defeats.
