Finidi reveals the real reason Ajayi was substituted in the closing minutes of WCQ v Bafana Bafana 

West Brom central defender Semi Ajayi had a subdued performance during Nigeria's 1-1 draw against South Africa in a 2026 World Cup qualifying match staged at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Friday night. 

Fisayo Dele-Bashiru's stunning strike thirty seven seconds into the second half saved the Super Eagles from a humiliating loss to the South Africans, who took the lead through Themba Zwane at minute 29.

Ajayi was one of the players blamed for the goal conceded by the Super Eagles as the experienced midfielder Zwane outmaneuvered both him and his defensive partner Calvin Bassey before finishing with aplomb.

Ten minutes to the end of the contest, the former Arsenal U21 skipper made way for Raphael Onyedika, a change that saw Wilfred Ndidi move into the centre-back position while the Club Brugge man took over Ndidi's role in midfield. 

Although it seemed to be a tactical substitution, Super Eagles coach Finidi George clarified post-match that Ajayi signaled to the bench to come off as he was playing through the pain barrier. 

The substitution of Ajayi meant Bayer Leverkusen forward Victor Boniface remained rooted to the bench for the entire duration of the game. 

Speaking at the post-match press conference, Finidi explained: "We thought about bringing him (Boniface) on. He was supposed to come in but when we had Ajayi complaining that he had a knock and couldn't continue, we had to reverse that. 

"We have another game. Definitely he is going to play if he's up and doing. For me, it's what you can give me on the pitch.

"Everybody wants this player or that player to play but at the end of the day if the player is not performing you guys will still be shouting, 'take him off'.

"Let us do our job, we know who is good to go. We have another game, we'll see how we ca play these guys."

Ajayi headed into the game against South Africa lacking match fitness, having logged nine minutes from a possible 450 in the last five games played by West Brom in the recently concluded season. 

The 30-year-old went the distance in Nigeria's last nine matches before the visit of Bafana Bafana to Uyo.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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