NFF points fingers after Eagles’ painful draw in South Africa

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has pointed fingers after the Super Eagles stumbled to a 1-1 draw against South Africa in Bloemfontein, singling out striker Cyriel Dessers for a poor showing and faulting captain William Troost-Ekong for gifting Bafana Bafana their only goal.

Ola Aina’s early injury setback was compounded when Troost-Ekong shockingly bundled the ball into his own net in the 25th minute to gift Bafana Bafana the lead. Though Calvin Bassey’s brave header pulled Nigeria level before halftime, the Eagles again flattered to deceive in the second half.

In a statement issued by its spokesperson, Dr. Ademola Olajire, the NFF singled out Dessers, who was hauled off at halftime, for a stinging rebuke.

“Cyriel Dessers, who had an unimpressive game in Uyo where he was a substitute that was substituted, did not fare any better. He was too slow to latch onto passes, failed to win aerial duels and did little to spark Nigeria’s attack,” the federation said.

The body also faulted Ekong, whose own goal it described as a turning point that “diminished the Super Eagles’ fighting spirit.”

While Bassey was praised for “immense resilience” in grabbing Nigeria’s equaliser, the NFF blasted the team’s overall second-half display, lamenting that despite dominating possession, the Eagles “delivered little” and wasted key chances through substitutes Tolu Arokodare and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru.

With the draw, Nigeria sit on 11 points from eight matches in Group C, six adrift of leaders South Africa. The Eagles now face a near-impossible task — beat Lesotho and Benin Republic and pray rivals stumble — to keep faint hopes of qualifying for next year’s World Cup in North America alive.