Bafana Bafana Held By Nigeria In Bloemfontein As World Cup Qualification Race Heats Up

South Africa looked on course for a crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier victory on Tuesday night in Bloemfontein when they took the lead in the 25th minute.

The opener came courtesy of a William Troost-Ekong own goal that had local fans roaring in anticipation of qualification hopes being sealed.

Nigeria Hit Bafana Bafana Back Before Half-Time

The Super Eagles refused to let the home crowd’s momentum overwhelm them. Just before the break, Calvin Bassey netted the equaliser, silencing the Free State Stadium and restoring Nigeria’s chances of automatic qualification.

The 1-1 draw ensured that both teams left the pitch frustrated but still firmly in the running.

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For Bafana Bafana to qualify on Tuesday, they needed both Rwanda and Benin to drop points. However, Rwanda edged Zimbabwe 1-0, while Benin’s fixture against Lesotho was set for later in the evening.

After eight matches, South Africa remain top of Group C with 17 points, while Nigeria climb into second spot on 11 points. With only two rounds left, the qualification race promises high drama.

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