BY Idris Shehu
The Super Eagles of Nigeria played a 1-1 draw against Bafana Bafana of South Africa in the first leg of their 2026 World Cup qualification encounter.
Fisayo Dele-Bashiru’s second-half strike earned the team a point after going to South Africa at the Godswill Akpabio stadium on Friday.
The match was the first competitive game with Finidi George as the head coach of the Eagles.
The coach opted for Stanley Nwabali in goal behind the defensive four of Calvin Bassey, Semi Ajayi, Bright Osayi-Samuel and Tanimu Benjamin.
Wilfred Ndidi marshalled the team in midfield alongside Alex Iwobi and Dele-Bashiru, while Paul Onuachu, Kelechi Iheanacho and Ademola Lookman led the attack.
Ndidi had said the team’s preparation for the game was partly hampered by the organised labour strike that shut down Nigeria earlier in the week.
The stretchy preparedness was apparent in the early stage of the game, and the South Africans took the lead in the 29th minute.
Themba Zwane drove into the Nigerian goal area and received a brilliant pass before waltzing through to smash the ball into the net beyond Nwabali.
Bafana Bafana looked better until the halftime break when the Eagles emerged as an improved side.
Immediately after the restart, Nigeria got the equaliser after Dele-Bashiru swivelled beyond Mothobi Mvala on the edge of the South African goal area and slotted his shot past a sprawled Ronwen Williams.
Nigeria remain winless after three games of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. The Eagle drew Lesotho and Zimbabwe last year. The team sits fifth on the log with three points.
They will play the Benin Republic, their fourth game of the campaign, in Abidjan on Monday.
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