Nothing could separate rivals South Africa and Nigeria as they played out a 1-1 draw in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in Bloemfontein on Tuesday, Afrosport reports.
Both sides came into the game off the back of wins against Lesotho and Rwanda respectively in their previous games.
Bafana Bafana were, however, the ones in pole position in Group C and went ahead in the 25th minute when Nigeria captain William Troost-Ekong put the ball into his own net.
Despite failing to create enough chances in the first half, the Super Eagles levelled in the 44th minute when Fulham defender Calvin Bassey sent in a powerful header.
Scorer against Rwanda, Tolu Arokodare, was brought on for Cyriel Dessers at the start of the second half and nearly put Nigeria 2-1 up in the 49th minute but his close range shot from the edge of the box was dragged wide.
South Africa had a chance to re-establish their lead in the 68th minute but Mbekezile Mbokazi’s strike from distance went wide.
Nigeria saw another player taken off injured for the second game in a row. Besiktas midfielder Wilfred Ndidi was carted off in the 70th minute and replaced by Chrisantus Uche.
It ends all square between Nigeria and South Africa. pic.twitter.com/I0POegMsQ7
— 🇳🇬 Super Eagles (@NGSuperEagles) September 9, 2025
The result sees group leaders South Africa maintain their six-point lead over Nigeria in third place.
Earlier in the day, Rwanda defeated Zimbabwe 1-0 in Johannesburg in the other Group C game.
