Nigeria’s World Cup hopes fade after 1-1 draw with South Africa

Nigeria’s chances of qualifying for the FIFA World Cup all but evaporated after a 1-1 draw with South Africa in Bloemfontein on Tuesday night.

The Super Eagles fell behind in the first half when captain William Troost-Ekong mistakenly bundled the ball into his own net. Calvin Bassey later rose high to nod in the equalizer, sparking brief hope for a turnaround.

Substitute Tolu Arokodare came agonizingly close to putting Nigeria ahead, but his effort skimmed just wide. Despite a late push and seven minutes of added time, South Africa held firm and remain in pole position to advance from the group.

With only 11 points from eight games, Nigeria’s path to the continental playoffs now looks nearly impossible, even if they win their last two fixtures.

Nigeria’s struggles did not begin in Bloemfontein. Costly draws at home to Lesotho and Zimbabwe, combined with a painful last-minute equalizer conceded against Zimbabwe and a defeat to Benin Republic, have all undermined the team’s campaign.

Unlike the resilient Super Eagles sides of old, this squad has repeatedly failed to respond strongly after setbacks. Fans have grown frustrated, pointing to a lack of fight and consistency against teams Nigeria was expected to dominate.

Head coach Sekou Chelle’s selections are now under scrutiny. His decision to start Cyriel Dessers over Arokodare baffled many, given Dessers’ struggles on rough pitches compared to Arokodare’s familiarity and physical presence.

Troost-Ekong’s inclusion also backfired. His lack of pace was ruthlessly exposed, leading to mistakes that put Nigeria under pressure. While Chelle corrected some of these errors in the second half, critics argue that his tactical missteps in big games are too frequent.

If there was a silver lining, it was Arokodare’s performance. The Genk striker has long been touted as a potential backup to Victor Osimhen, and recent displays suggest he may finally be ready to fill that role.

After scoring against Rwanda, his instant impact against South Africa showcased his aerial threat, movement, and hunger—qualities missing from Nigeria’s frontline. Though early in his international career, Arokodare has made a compelling case for more starts.

The state of the Free State Stadium pitch was another talking point. Patchy and uneven, it disrupted play and even caused injuries. Ola Aina was forced off after just seven minutes with a hamstring problem, while Moses Simon struggled to control the ball.

Even South Africa’s coach Hugo Broos admitted before kickoff that the pitch was far from international standard. How it passed Confederation of African Football (CAF) inspection remains a mystery.