Nigeria still can’t buy a win for love or money in their Africa Group C World Cup qualifiers as they salvaged a 1-1 draw against South Africa, following two previous draws of the same scoreline against Lesotho and Zimbabwe.
Although the Super Eagles started brightly, South Africa were by far the better side, showing better movement, more cohesion and deservedly took the lead through a brilliant goal by Themba Zwane after 29 minutes. The defending by Calvin Bassey and Semi Ajayi left a lot to be desired as Zwane ghosted past them to beat Stanley Nwabali in the Nigerian goal.
Coach Finidi George had Nigerian fans scratching their heads with his selection that included the slow, ponderous and cumbersome giant Paul Onuachu and Kelechi Iheanacho, recently released by Leicester. There was little dynamism in the Nigerian frontline, while captain Wilfred Ndidi was a calming influence in midfield and showed why he was missed through injury at the Africa Cup of Nations in February where Nigeria were losing finalists.
Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, on his debut, wearing the Number 10 shirt, showed deft touches in midfield and earned the draw for Nigeria with a smart turn and finish seconds into the second half after an assist from Alex Iwobi. The goal should have given the home side the spark to finish off South Africa, but it continued to be a tale of poor movement off the ball, poor decision making and the final ball always wanting.
Nigeria continues to look like a team that is not coached, playing like a bunch of strangers in a pub team on a Sunday afternoon after a few beers.
It remains a mystery why Iheanacho was allowed to perform a disappearing act for 65 minutes before being hauled off for Samuel Chukwueze, who hit the crossbar with South African goalie Ronwen Williams bearing down on him in the 74th minute. Chukwueze then delivered his customary headless chicken act for the rest of the game.
Onuachu, who had no business starting a game for an international side, lasted until the 80th minute before being replaced by Terem Moffi. The striker from Nice could have proved to be an inspired substitution with two minutes into added time when he tried to round Williams in the South African goal only for the stopper to retrieve the ball with relative ease.
In the end it was not quite clear whether it was a point dropped or one gained. But after the three games in Group C, things are looking pretty grim for Nigerian fans with Nigeria second from bottom with just three points, while Lesotho is at the top with five points. The big worry is that this team and their coach just don’t seem to have it in them to live up to their favourites billing and take the group by the scruff of the neck.
