Nigeria qualifies for 2019 Nations Cup following Eagles draw away in South Africa

NIGERIA'S Super Eagles have qualified for the 2019 African Nations Cup after securing a point in a 1-1 draw with South Africa in Johannesburg yesterday that guarantees the team will be one of the two qualifiers from the group.

 

Thanks to an own goal, the Eagles took the lead in the ninth minute when a Samuel Kalu cross was deflected into the South African net by Buhle Mkhwanazi. However, Bafana Bafana equalised in the 23rd minute when Percy Tau cut through the Nigerian defence before laying a pass to Lebo Mothiba to slot the ball past Ikechukwu Ezenwa in goal for the Eagles.

 

That goal gave the South Africans the confidence to come out dictating play but things stayed level until the break. In the second half, Bafana Bafana took the initiative as early on, Mothiba teed up Thulani Serero in the area but the Vitesse player miscuing his volley, sending it over the bar.

 

Later on, Ahmed Musa was denied a clear chance to win the game with another wrong offside call. Musa had finished brilliantly but the offside flag cut short his celebrations and denied Nigeria the chance to avenge the 0-2 loss the Eagles suffered against South Africa in Uyo earlier in the year.

 

Early on in the first half, Musa had been flagged offside after being put through on goal and replays showed that this too was a wrong decision. Despite not securing all three points, the Eagles are top of the group with 10 points and have qualified for Cameroon 2019 as one of the teams to go through.

 

South Africa are in second place with nine points, while Libya are in third place with seven points with one match to go. On the final day of qualification, Nigeria will host Seychelles, while Libya will host South Africa to determine which of them qualifies alongside Nigeria.

 

How the Eagles fared:

Ikechukwu Ezenwa - 7/10

Leon Balogun – 6/10

Kenneth Omeruo – 6.5/10

William Ekong – 6/10

Jamilu Collins – 7/10

Samuel Kalu - 7.5/10

John Ogu – 7.5/10

Oghenekaro Etebo –6/10

Kelechi Iheanacho – 5/10

Ahmed Musa – 8/10

Alex Iwobi –6.5/10

Share