Nigeria’s
Super Eagles will be at the Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON in 2019 after missing
the last two editions in Gabon in 2017 and Equatorial Guinea in 2015.
The
Super Eagles were forced to a draw, 1-1 by South Africa to ensure qualification
for the biennial event, leaving the Bafana Bafana with one last chance to
qualify, away at Libya in March 2019.
Playing
without injured Odion Ighalo and Francis Uzoho as well as suspended Wilfred
Ndidi, there were rare starts for Ikechukwu Ezenwa in goal, John Ogu in
midfield and Kelechi Iheanacho in attack.
It
was Nigeria that drew first blood in the 9th minute when Samuel
Kalu, playing as wing back found space to cross into the box, a cross that was
deflected in by Buhle Mkwanazi.
A
minute earlier, a ridiculous call by the Assistant Referee denied Nigeria what
would have been the first goal of the game was ruled out as offside even though
video replays showed it shouldn’t have.
Percy
Tau ran down the Nigerian defence all game long and when the equalizer came, it
had to be from him.
He
turned around with the ball in the Nigerian penalty area, leaving three markers
dead in his tracks, and rather than score, set up LEBO MOTHIBA for the easiest of tap ins. That was
in the 26th minute.
The
Bafana continued to dominate while the Eagles conserved their strength until
half time.
After
61 minutes, the South Africans made the first substitution of the game replacing
Thulani Serero with Thembinkosi Lorch.
Nigeria
make their first change in the 69th minute as Isaac Success took the
place of Kelechi Iheanacho.
Kenneth
Omeruo should have scored in the 74th minute as he rose highest to connect
a Samuel Kalu cross but his free header went wide.
The
South Africans kept on teasing while the Nigerians just contained them as
fatigue and the altitude began to take its toll on them.
In
a counter attacking move, just eight minutes to full time, Ahmed Musa put the
ball in the net, but the flag surprising went up again for offside with video
replays showing he was far from it.
With
the game ended 1-1 Nigeria will play in the AFCON in Cameroon in 2019 even with
one game to go, at home against Seychelles
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