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 showdown. The match was the first competitive game with Finidi George as the head coach of the Eagles.
Hatayspor midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru’s second-half strike secured the team a point after going to South Africa at the Godswill Akpabio stadium on Friday.
The coach went for Stanley Nwabali in goal behind the defensive back line of Calvin Bassey, Semi Ajayi, Bright Osayi-Samuel, and Tanimu Benjamin.
Leicester City’s defensive midfielder Wilfred Ndidi led the team in midfield alongside Everton’s Alex Iwobi and Dele-Bashiru, while Paul Onuachu, Kelechi Iheanacho and Ademola Lookman led the attack.
Ndidi claimed that the team’s preparation for the game was partly hampered by the organized 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.
Thambo Zwane drove into the Nigerian goal area and received a brilliant pass before slithering through to flash 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 equalizer after Dele-Bashiru swiveled beyond Mothobi Mvala on the edge of the South African goal area and slotted his shot past a sprawled Ronwen Williams. It was glaring as Atalanta’s Europa League hero was lost throughout the game.
Nigeria remains 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.
Nigeria plays the Benin Republic, their fourth game of the campaign, in Abidjan on Monday.
