Bafana Bafana
Bafana Bafana held to 1-1 draw by Nigeria in tense World Cup qualifier, as Coach Hugo Broos’ charges maintained their lead in Group C with 17 points after a hard-fought battle at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein on Tuesday night, where an own goal by William Troost-Ekong gave South Africa the lead before Calvin Bassey’s controversial equaliser on the stroke of halftime. It was billed as an epic showdown between the two long-time adversaries, and it certainly lived up to expectations with the two teams throwing everything they had at each other for the full 90 minutes, to the delight of the passionate fans in the stands, resulting in a share of the spoils that keeps Bafana’s destiny in their own hands heading into the final round of qualifiers next month.
Match Highlights and Key Moments
Coach Hugo Broos’ charges were the first to put their name on the stadium scoreboard after Nigeria’s William Troost-Ekong beat his own goalkeeper to put the home side in the lead in the 25th minute. The own goal came from a well-delivered cross by Teboho Mokoena that pressured the Nigerian defence, giving Bafana a deserved lead after dominating early possession.
Nigeria equalised on the stroke of halftime through Calvin Bassey just before the break. Television replays later showed that Bassey did not head the ball and actually used his hand to guide it past South African goalkeeper Ronwen Williams and into the back of the net. The match officials did not spot the handball and the goal stood, sparking controversy and protests from the Bafana bench.
The two teams continued to throw everything they had at each other in the second half, with several flying tackles and physical challenges dominating play. Bafana created chances through Mokoena and Percy Tau, but Nigeria’s defence held firm. The Super Eagles pressed for a winner, but Williams made crucial saves to secure the point.
But in the end, the two sides had to settle for a share of the spoils. The result keeps Bafana Bafana at the top of Group C with 17 points. The final round of qualifiers will be played next month, with Bafana Bafana very much in control of their own destiny
Coach Broos and Captain Williams’ Reactions
“The performance of my team today, in this game, makes me enormously proud. It may not have been good football at times, not at all, but the way they fought for every ball was nice to see for a coach,” Broos said.
Bafana Bafana return back to Johannesburg on Wednesday.
Captain Ronwen Williams echoed the sentiment of self-reliance: “The most important thing is to get the job done. We do not want any favours from anyone; we want to do things our way.”
Group C Standings and Qualification Scenario
South Africa remains unbeaten in the qualifiers, leading Group C with 17 points from eight matches. Nigeria sits third with 11 points, behind Benin on 13. With two games left in October 2025—against Zimbabwe away and Lesotho at home—Bafana needs just one win to qualify, as Africa gets nine automatic spots in the expanded 48-team tournament.
Qualification would mark Bafana’s first World Cup since hosting in 2010, boosting national morale amid economic challenges.
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