‘Own goal’ | ‘Too slow to latch onto passes’ — NFF hits Ekong, Dessers after South Africa draw

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has issued an unusually public assessment of some Super Eagles players following the team’s 1-1 draw with South Africa — a result that severely damages the nation’s chances of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The statement, released after the match in Bloemfontein, contained specific criticism of individual performances while acknowledging the quality of their opponents.

The draw leaves Bafana Bafana in a strong position to win the group, while Nigeria’s path to automatic qualification is now mathematically narrow and dependent on other results.

The NFF’s commentary began by crediting South Africa for applying early pressure, which exposed vulnerabilities in the Nigerian defense.

The federation then singled out striker Cyriel Dessers, who started in place of the injured Victor Osimhen.

The statement described his performance as “too slow to latch onto passes,” noting an inability to win aerial duels and a limited impact on the Nigerian attack.

Dessers was substituted at halftime after also receiving criticism for his play in the previous match.

The statement also addressed the own goal scored by captain William Troost-Ekong in the 25th minute, suggesting it “diminished the team’s fighting spirit for a period” and provided significant momentum to the hosts.

While the NFF noted a stronger second-half effort from Nigeria, it concluded that the performance ultimately “promised so much but delivered little”.

The Super Eagles will now play must-win matches against Lesotho and Benin Republic in their final two group games, though their fate is no longer entirely in their own hands.

Read the full NFF’s statement below:

NFF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT

2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifying: Eagles draw 1-1 with Bafana Bafana in Bloemfontein

Nigeria’s road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals remains rough after the Super Eagles could only force South Africa’s Bafana Bafana to a 1-1 draw at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein on Tuesday.

The Group C leaders started with a scorching pace asking several questions from both wings of the Nigerian rearguard, and their fortune was helped somewhat after only eight minutes when wing-back Olaoluwa Aina sustained an injury while driving down to the right to ask his own questions of the Bafana defence. He had to be replaced by Bright Osayi-Samuel.

Cyriel Dessers, who had an unimpressive game in Uyo where he turned out a substitute that was substituted, did not have a better game as he was too slow to latch onto passes, could not win aerial balls and did little in bringing alive the Nigerian attack.

The Super Eagles’ fighting spirit was diminished for a period after team captain William Ekong inadvertently swept the ball into his own net in the 25th minute, wrong-footing Stanley Nwabali to give the Bafana the lead and great impetus.

Defender Calvin Bassey showed immense fighting spirit and resilience to get Nigeria back into the game with a minute left of the first period, when he ran with the ball upfront. The ball found Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, whose pull-out Bassey met firmly to nod past Ronwen Williams for the leveller.

The second half promised so much but delivered little, though substitute Tolu Arokodare and Dele-Bashiru had opportunities to win it for Nigeria.

The draw means the Super Eagles are now on 11 points from 8 matches, with their next game away to Lesotho at the same venue on 10th October.