The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has openly criticised Super Eagles striker Cyriel Dessers and faulted captain William Troost-Ekong following Tuesday’s 1-1 draw against South Africa in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier held in Bloemfontein.
Needing a win to boost their fading hopes of qualifying for next year’s tournament in North America, Nigeria suffered an early blow when Ola Aina limped off just eight minutes into the game. Things worsened when Troost-Ekong scored an own goal in the 25th minute, handing South Africa the lead.
Despite Calvin Bassey’s equaliser just before half-time, Nigeria failed to convert dominance into goals in the second half. Substitutes Tolu Arokodare, Samuel Chukwueze, and Chrisantus Uche were unable to break down the South African defence.
In a post-match statement released by NFF Director of Communications Dr Ademola Olajire, the federation singled out Dessers—who was substituted at half-time—for harsh criticism.
“Cyriel Dessers, who had an unimpressive game in Uyo where he turned out to be a substitute that was substituted, did not have a better game as he was too slow to latch onto passes, could not win aerial balls and did little in bringing alive the Nigerian attack,” the statement read.
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Captain Troost-Ekong was also blamed for giving South Africa the lead with his own goal. The NFF noted that the Super Eagles’ fighting spirit dipped after the mishap, which gave Bafana Bafana momentum.
On a positive note, the federation praised Calvin Bassey’s resilience and fighting spirit, highlighting his headed equaliser as a key moment.
Despite dominating possession in the second half, the NFF lamented the team’s failure to capitalise on opportunities, with late substitutions like Tolu Arokodare and Dele-Bashiru unable to make an impact.
The draw leaves Nigeria with 11 points from eight Group C matches, trailing South Africa who sit top with 17 points. The Super Eagles now face must-win games against Lesotho and Benin Republic, while hoping for favourable results elsewhere, to keep their World Cup dream alive.
