Super Eagles
PicNews
The Super Eagles’ World Cup hopes have taken a significant hit after being held to a 1-1 draw by South Africa in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier. The match, played at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein, saw Nigeria’s captain William Troost-Ekong score an own goal in the 25th minute, giving South Africa the lead. However, Calvin Bassey salvaged a point for the Super Eagles with a header just before halftime, leveraging Fisayo Dele-Bashiru’s precise cross.
The draw leaves Nigeria’s chances of securing an automatic ticket virtually impossible, with just two games left to play. The team now faces an uphill battle and risks missing the second successive World Cup tournament, having also missed out in the 2022 edition in Qatar. South Africa tops the standings with 17 points, while Nigeria is stuck on 11 points, the same tally as Benin Republic and Rwanda.
Nigeria’s qualification is now mathematically improbable. The Super Eagles must win their two remaining matches against Lesotho and Benin to finish with 17 points. At the same time, South Africa would have to lose both of their last two games to also finish on 17 points, bringing goal difference into play as a tiebreaker. The team’s fate now largely depends on external factors and favorable results in other groups.
The Super Eagles suffered a huge setback in the early exchanges when Ola Aina hit the turf clutching his hamstring, forcing coach Eric Chelle into a substitution that saw Bright Osayi-Samuel enter the fray. Wilfred Ndidi also suffered an injury blow, which could impact the team’s performance in the remaining matches.
The upcoming matches in October will be vital, with Nigeria facing Lesotho and Benin. The team will be eager for the return of star attackers Victor Osimhen, as well as defenders Ola Aina and Wilfred Ndidi, all of whom suffered injuries during this international camp. Their participation could prove crucial as Nigeria seeks to turn their fortunes around in the final push for World Cup qualification.
