Nigeria’s Super Eagles were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by South Africa’s Bafana Bafana on Tuesday at the Free State Stadium in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, leaving their qualification hopes in a precarious position.
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The stalemate came as a setback for Nigeria, who entered the match second in Group C with 11 points, tied with Benin Republic, and trailing group leaders South Africa by six points with only two matches remaining.
The hosts took the lead when Nigeria captain William Ekong inadvertently deflected Nkota’s cross into his own net, giving South Africa an early advantage.
However, the Super Eagles fought back just before halftime. From a midfield build-up by Lookman, Simon delivered a precise cross that found Calvin Bassey, who rose to head in the equaliser. Replays suggested the ball may have brushed his arm, but with no VAR in play, the goal stood.
Despite the spirited response, Nigeria’s draw was insufficient to keep their World Cup dreams fully alive. The team now depends on Benin losing to Lesotho later Tuesday night to have any realistic chance of overtaking South Africa.
Group C Standings After Tuesday’s Match:
| Pos | Team | MP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Africa | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 14 | 6 | +8 | 17 |
| 2 | Nigeria | 8 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 9 | 7 | +2 | 11 |
| 3 | Benin | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 11 |
| 4 | Rwanda | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 11 |
| 5 | Lesotho | 7 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 8 | -4 | 6 |
| 6 | Zimbabwe | 8 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 11 | -6 | 4 |
FIFA had earlier predicted that South Africa could become the first team in Group C to qualify for the 2026 World Cup with a win over Nigeria. “Two more teams could secure @fifaworldcup 26 qualification today! Egypt will qualify if they beat Burkina Faso, while South Africa will qualify if they beat Nigeria, and Benin fail to beat Lesotho,” the body tweeted.
With the draw, Nigeria keeps its mathematical chance of topping the group but faces a nearly impossible path. They must win their remaining two matches against Lesotho and Benin to reach 17 points while hoping South Africa lose both remaining games. If both teams finish with 17 points, the group winner will be decided by tiebreakers, including goal difference.
The result leaves South Africa as strong favourites to emerge as Group C winners, while Nigeria’s World Cup dreams hinge on a perfect finish and favorable outcomes elsewhere.
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