Nigeria's flag will be hoisted in Cameroon next year at the Africa Cup of Nations after the 1-1 draw against South Africa at the FNB Stadium.

It would have been a win for Nigeria but for some spurious refereeing decisions.

Here Izuchukwu Okosi presents five things that may have passed unnoticed when the two countries played on Saturday.

1. Enyimba Fans Cheer Super Eagles

During the game, a camera panned on a section of the crowd and we saw some Nigerian fans of Enyimba FC of Aba donning lovely blue polos with the name of their darling club on the front. They also waved the green and white flag of Nigeria.

Club over country, or country over club you might wonder.


2. Leon Balogun's Fury

Super Eagles defender Leon Balogun was left fuming over something we were not quite sure about but his gaze was on the South African bench.

In fact he put his index finger over his lips in apparent message of 'shut up' but was addressed by referee Sulayman Sosseh from Gambia who made it clear to the Brighton and Hove star that he (referee) is in charge of the game.


3. United Against Xenophobia

Both teams posed for a photograph as the message against Xenophobia was highlighted. One Nigerian fan in the stand had a placard reading: "We are one Africa."

Scores of Nigerians residing in South Africa have been killed over supposedly taking away the jobs and businesses meant for the locals. Many businesses and properties belonging to Nigerians have also been destroyed.



4. Signed South Africa Ball

Before the match started, the match ball was shown by the camera lenses on a close shot and we saw that the ball was signed with RSA written on it.


5. Match Commentator Teases Nigeria's Victor Ikpeba

During the match, ace football commentator Mark Gleeson cheekily recalled the first half appearance of 1997 Africa Footballer of the Year winner Victor Ikpeba on 16 January 1993 against South Africa on their home soil in a 1994 FIFA World Cup qualifying match.

Ikpeba was able to last the game for only 45 minutes due to the energy sapping weather that made then Nigeria head coach Clemence Westerhof take him off at the break.

Ikpeba himself last week in a television programme admitted that Westerhof saved a situation by removing him from the match which ended scoreless. Nigeria went on to make a debut appearance at the World Cup in USA.

Izuchukwu Okosi