Hidden Reason South Africa Took Super Eagles to a Bad Pitch for World Cup Qualifiers Emerges
- South Africa held Nigeria to a 1-1 draw in Bloemfontein, leaving the Eagles six points behind in Group C
- The game was moved to Bloemfontein to limit Nigerian fan presence, with the poor pitch also disrupting play
- Nigeria faces slim chances of qualifying for the World Cup, needing wins and favourable results from other games
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Nigeria’s hopes of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup took another major hit after a 1-1 draw against South Africa at the Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein on Tuesday, September 9.
The Super Eagles had to fight from behind after captain William Troost-Ekong turned the ball into his own net, before defender Calvin Bassey rose highest to pull Nigeria level with a header.
Source: Twitter
Despite moments of promise from Eric Chelle’s team, including a half-chance from substitute Tolu Arokodare, the Super Eagles struggled to break through.
South Africa held firm at their home turf with the support of their fans, taking one crucial point in Group C and leaving Nigeria six points behind the leaders, per FIFA.com.
After the game, some Super Eagles players came under attack, including Cyriel Dessers from the NFF's media department.
With only two games left in the qualifiers, booking a spot at next year’s World Cup looks increasingly out of reach for the Super Eagles.
Why the game was taken to Bloemfontein
The South African Football Association (SAFA) decision to host the crucial World Cup qualifier in Bloemfontein raised curiosity from the start.
Media sources in South Africa have now revealed the move was deliberate. Unlike cities such as Johannesburg or Cape Town, Bloemfontein has a smaller Nigerian community.
The choice meant the Super Eagles would not enjoy large support from Nigerians based in South Africa, they might have enjoyed elsewhere if the game was played in another city, OwnGoal Nigeria reports.
This calculated decision limited Nigeria’s “12th man” in the stands, leaving the Super Eagles to battle largely in hostile territory and on a very poor pitch not used to by Nigeria’s superstar players.
The problem was not just the location. The Toyota Stadium’s pitch was far from ideal, with uneven patches that made passing football difficult.
Nigeria’s players struggled to create anything meaningful throughout the entire game, while South Africa appeared more settled on the surface they had trained on.
The combination of limited support and a difficult pitch gave Bafana Bafana the edge they needed.
World Cup hopes dimmed for Nigeria
The draw against South Africa leaves Nigeria on 11 points from eight matches, trailing Bafana Bafana by six.
Source: Twitter
Even winning their remaining games against Bening and Lesotho may not be enough to secure a playoff spot.
The Super Eagles are now relying on South Africa and Benin to drop points, an unlikely scenario given current form.
As the qualifiers come to an end soon, Nigeria’s chances of making it to the World Cup are fading fast, and the Super Eagles will need not just victories but a stroke of fortune from elsewhere if they are to keep their hopes alive.
Nigeria can still qualify
In a related development, Legit.ng reported that 1992 AFCON bronze medallist Friday Ekpo urged Nigeria not to give up in their fight to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The ex-Super Eagles star said other countries' results can play a vital role in increasing our chances.
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Source: Legit.ng
