End of the road! Super Eagles' World Cup quest crashes after 1-1 draw with South Africa

Nigeria’s 1-1 draw with South Africa ends their 2026 World Cup hopes, leaving Bafana Bafana in control of Group C qualification.

Calvin Bassey rose the highest to head home Nigeria's equalizer on Tuesday as the Super Eagles settled for a 1-1 draw against South Africa in their World Cup qualifier. (Photo credit: Pulse)

Except an unexpected tragedy befalls the Bafana Bafana of End of the road! Super Eagles' World Cup quest crashes after 1-1 draw with South Africa South Africa in their remaining three qualifying games, Nigeria can effectively bid the 2026 World Cup goodbye.

The Super Eagles of Nigeria laboured to a 1-1 draw at the Bloemfontein Stadium in South Africa on Tuesday in the World Cup qualifier against South Africa, a result that has ended all hopes of the Nigerian side finishing top in Group C.

The mathematics were simple: beat South Africa and cut the deficit between the two sides to three points, and then hope that the South Africans lose three points for fielding an ineligible player against Lesotho earlier in the campaign.

As things stand, Nigeria remains six points behind the South Africans with three games to play, leaving it completely in the hands of the South Africans, who will remain favourites to qualify as group winners even if they get punished by CAF and the CAS.

The Super Eagles started the game on the back foot, with South Africa dominating the opening exchanges, and rightfully took the lead midway into the first half when Nigerian captain William Troost-Ekong diverted a low cross past his own keeper.

The goal conceded became a shot in the arm for the Super Eagles, who took initiatives from there. Nigeria got better as the half wore on, steadied the ship and built a strong platform for a well-deserved equaliser.

With the first half winding down, Calvin Bassey started a move on the left side of the defence, but it was Bright Osayi on the right who powered a cross into the South African area for Bassey to head home, although replays show the ball went in off the Fulham defender's arm, but there was no VAR to spot it.

Nigeria dominated the rest of the game but couldn't do much to trouble Ronwen Williams in the South African goal. Eric Chelle's decision to keep Tolu Arokodare on the bench until the second half didn't work, as Cyril Dessers didn't do anything of note.