Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle, has described Nigeria’s 1-1 draw against South Africa in Tuesday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match as a fair outcome.
Speaking at his post-match press conference at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein, Chelle said the team fought hard and managed to secure an important away point.
The home side, Bafana Bafana, took the lead in the 22nd minute after William Troost-Ekong scored an own goal. However, Nigeria quickly responded when Calvin Bassey leveled the score before half-time.
The second half was tight, with both teams creating chances but failing to convert. After 90 minutes, the score remained 1-1.
Chelle admitted that the Super Eagles started the second half strongly, piling pressure on South Africa, but they lacked precision in the final pass and finishing.
He noted that securing a point away from home was a good result, although the team had aimed for victory. “We wanted to win, so we feel a bit disappointed, but that’s football,” Chelle explained.
After the draw, Nigeria now sits on 11 points with only two matches left to play. South Africa leads the group with 17 points, while Benin Republic follows closely with 16 points.
