FIFA WCQ: NFF blames Troost-Ekong’s costly own goal for Nigeria Super Eagles heartbreak vs South Africa

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) media has singled out captain William Troost-Ekong for a costly own goal that helped South Africa force Nigeria to a share of the spoils in their crucial FIFA WCQ.

Nigeria’s Super Eagles were held to a 1-1 draw by South Africa’s Bafana Bafana in Bloemfontein on Tuesday, a result that leaves their 2026 World Cup hopes hanging by a thread.

The match began tensely, with South Africa forcing an early save from Nigerian goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, who appeared more composed than his shaky previous outing.

However, Nigeria failed to respond effectively to the warning as Troost-Ekong’s own goal wrong-footed Nwabali. This own goal inflicted a major psychological blow, allowing South Africa to take the lead.

Nigeria fought back, and just before halftime, defender Calvin Bassey scored his first-ever goal for the Super Eagles to level the score.

Although the ball appeared to touch Bassey’s hand before crossing the line, the absence of VAR at the stadium meant the referee’s decision stood, sending both teams into the break at 1-1.

The second half was cagey, with few clear scoring opportunities. Nigeria introduced Tolu Arokodare, the hero of their recent win over Rwanda, who came closest to scoring with a late effort from a tight angle that brushed the front of the South African goal.

After 90 minutes, Nigeria settled for a point, leaving them on 11 points while South Africa maintain a clear lead at 17 points in Group C.

In their post-match analysis, the NFF media condemned the Troost-Ekong, benched vs Rwanda, own goal as a blow to the Super Eagles’ fighting spirit, saying it gave South Africa “great impetus” and effectively disrupted Nigeria’s campaign.

“The Super Eagles’ fighting spirit was diminished for a period after team captain [William Ekong] inadvertently swept the ball into his own net, wrong-footing [Stanley] Nwabali to give the Bafana the lead and great impetus,” it stated.

With only two matches left, Nigeria now trail South Africa by six points, making the path to automatic qualification almost impossible without some external ruling on South Africa’s alleged fielding of an ineligible player.