South Africa 1-1 Nigeria: Five observations from Super Eagles' hard-fought draw v Bafana Bafana

Nigeria were held to a 1-1 draw by South Africa on Tuesday evening at the Toyota Stadium.

The host took the lead after captain William Troost-Ekong inadvertently scored an own goal, before Calvin Bassey leveled matters with a close-range header late in the first half.

Allnigeriasoccer.com presents five observations from the game

Ola Aina, Wilfred Ndidi suffer possible  injuries

Nottingham Forest fullback was forced off in the first half after picking up an injury.

The ex-Chelsea defender could not continue and was replaced by Bright Osayi-Samuel.

Similarly, Wilfred Ndidi also sustained an injury in the second half, leading to his substitution in the second half.

South Africa deploys time wasting technique

Bafana Bafana were visibly employing time-wasting tactics, particularly in the second half, to run down the clock.

Several South African players were accused of exaggerating knocks and repeatedly staying on the ground to disrupt the flow of the game.

Altercation between both technical crew

In the 70th minute, tempers flared as both technical crews clashed over time-wasting.

Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle voiced his frustration at Teboho Mokoena’s delay after receiving treatment, while South Africa’s coach Hugo Broos reacted angrily, exchanging words with the Nigerian bench.

The confrontation sparked a heated response from Chelle, forcing the referee to step in and restore order before play could continue.

Bad playing surface in Bloemfontein

The poor state of the Free State Stadium pitch clearly disrupted the flow of the game, making it difficult for both teams to fully express themselves, limiting goal-scoring opportunities and dampening the excitement for the fans.

Questionable officiating

CAF appointed Gabonese referee Pierre Ghislain Atcho to handle the crucial Group C clash between Nigeria and South Africa.

However, his performance came under scrutiny, as several Nigerian players expressed frustration over his decisions.

Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman was repeatedly seen gesturing towards the referee, voicing his displeasure and insisting that the officiating was unfair.

He was particularly criticized for failing to properly manage the game, allowing the South Africans to waste valuable time.

Adeyemi Adewale

Photo Credit: safa.net

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