The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) issued sharp criticism of Super Eagles striker Cyriel Dessers and captain William Troost-Ekong following a 1-1 draw against South Africa in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier on Tuesday, September 9, 2025.

The result in Bloemfontein left Nigeria’s hopes of reaching the tournament in North America hanging by a thread, prompting the federation to highlight defensive errors and missed opportunities that cost the team a crucial victory.

The match began with an early blow as defender Ola Aina exited with an injury in the eighth minute. The situation worsened when Ekong inadvertently scored an own goal in the 25th minute, giving South Africa the lead. Despite Fulham defender Calvin Bassey equalizing just before halftime, Nigeria struggled to capitalize on second-half possession.

The NFF’s post-match statement, shared with journalists by Director of Communications Dr. Ademola Olajire, singled out Dessers for a lackluster performance, noting he was “too slow to latch onto passes, could not win aerial balls, and did little in bringing alive the Nigerian attack.” Dessers, substituted at halftime, had also underperformed in a prior match in Uyo. Ekong faced scrutiny for his error, which the NFF said “diminished the Super Eagles’ fighting spirit” and gave South Africa momentum.

The federation praised Bassey’s resilience, highlighting his run and header from a Fisayo Dele-Bashiru cross to level the score. However, it expressed frustration with the team’s second-half output, pointing out that substitutes Tolu Arokodare, Samuel Chukwueze, and Chrisantus Uche failed to break through South Africa’s defense despite Nigeria’s dominance.

“The Eagles delivered little,” the statement read, lamenting missed chances by Arokodare and Dele-Bashiru late in the game. South Africa’s coach Hugo Broos, speaking post-match, expressed confidence in his team’s World Cup prospects, while Nigerian fans and analysts questioned coach Amadou Chelle’s selections, including the reliance on underperforming players.

The draw leaves Nigeria with 11 points from eight Group C matches, trailing South Africa’s 17. To qualify, the Super Eagles must win their final games against Lesotho and Benin Republic and hope rivals falter—a tall order in a fiercely competitive group.