Bafana Bafana drew 1-1 with Nigeria in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier at Godswill Akpabio international Stadium.
2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifier
Result: Nigeria 1-1 Bafana Bafana
Date: 07 June 2024
Venue: Godswill Akpabio international Stadium
Bafana head coach Hugo Broos gave Iqraam Rayners and Elias Mokwana surprise starts to partner the returning Percy Tau upfront while Siyabonga Ngezana also got a start for the first time under Broos.
The Super Eagles attack boasted the likes of Ademola Lookman, who scored a hat-trick for Atalanta in their UEFA Europa League final win over Bayer Leverkusen.
Lookman's pace on the left wing unsettled the Bafana defence from the onset.
However, Bafana created clearer chances as within the first ten minutes Teboho Mokoena forced a save out of goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali with a strike unmarked on the edge of the box.
As the visitors looked for chances on counter-attacks, Mokoena came close again seven minutes later with a looping shot from range that came off the top of the crossbar.
South Africa settled in the game after that and Themba Zwane eventually broke the deadlock on the half-hour mark with a clinical strike from close-range after he dribbled past a couple of challenges in the box.
As Nigeria attacked in numbers, Bafana should have capitalized on the break nine minutes before the interval after Khuliso Mudau was released clear on goal by Tau but he was denied by Nwabali in a one-on-one.
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Finidi George's troops had a perfect start in the second stanza as they caught Bafana cold after Fisayo Dele-Bashiru levelled matters within a minute from the break with a strike from close-range after he received square pass unmarked in the six-yard box.
Bafana were subdued and Broos eventually made attacking changes 20 minutes before time after Lyle Foster and Oswin Appollis both came on for Rayners and Mokwana.
Appollis made an immediate impact for the visitors after racing towards goal and gave Tau a defence splitting pass but the Al Ahly forward fluffed his chance one-on-one with Nwabali.
With end to end attacks, South Africa were fortunate not to be 2-1 down in the last 15 minutes after Samuel Chukwueze was denied by the crossbar with a strike from close-range.
Nigeria pressurized Bafana in the closing stages as they had urgency going forward and Lookman thought he had netted the winner for the hosts with a curler towards the far post that was heroically parried away by goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.
Williams rescued Bafana again in added time after he smothered a ball in the feet of Teremas Moffi who was clear on goal.
SA remained a point ahead of the Super Eagles and closed the gap to just one point behind surprise leaders Lesotho in a tight Group C.
Here's how they lined up:
Nigeria: Nwabali, Semi, Bassey, Taminu, Osayi-Samuel, Ndidi, Iwobi, Bashiru, Lookman, Onuachu, Iheanacho.
South Africa: Williams, Mudau, Ngezana, Mvala, Modiba, Mokoena, Sithole, Zwane, Tau, Mokwana, Rayners
Subs: Goss, Mothwa, Maswanganyi, Msimango, Morena, Appollis, Aubaas, Mofokeng, Foster, Mobbie, Adams
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