The Super Eagles of Nigeria ended the match against Bafana Bafana of South Africa in the third round of the 2026 World Cup with a 1:1 draw, News About Nigeria reports.
The match, which was played on Friday night at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, ended in a draw for the Super Eagles, taking them to the fifth position on the table.
Themba Zwane of South Africa opened the scoresheet in the 29th minute of the match, while Fisayo Dele-Bashiru slotted in a low shot to the edge of the post in the 46th minute, equalising after a superb turn.
The match has, however, placed Nigeria fifth in a table of six teams after three matches in the 10-match competition, as the Super Eagles have drawn all three matches played.
The group winners will qualify for the 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the United States; the four best-ranked runners-up go into play-offs, and the winners enter an inter-continental tournament where six nations will compete for two places.
Super Eagles coach Finidi George, however, came under fire for not fielding Victor Boniface in Friday night’s encounter against South Africa.
The coach, while addressing the criticism and demands from some quarters regarding player selections, also emphasised the importance of on-field performance over external pressures.
He also explained the reason for the exclusion of Victor Boniface, a striker, from the match, stating that the circumstances on the field of play prompted a change in plans.
“We thought about bringing him in; he was supposed to come in, but when we had Ajayi complain that he couldn’t continue, we had to reverse that.
“We have another game; definitely, if he’s up and doing, he’s going to play.
“For me, it’s what you can give to me on the field of play. Everybody wants this player or that player to play, but at the end of the day, if the player is not performing, you guys will still be shouting take him off, so let us do our job. We know who is good to go,” he stated.
Super Eagles will travel to Abidjan to face third-placed Benin on June 10.
