2026 WC Qualifier: NFF Criticises Dessers, Faults Ekong After Super Eagles’ Draw With South Africa

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has openly criticised striker Cyriel Dessers and faulted squad skipper William Troost-Ekong pursuing the Super Eagles’ 1-1 gully against South Africa successful a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier connected Tuesday successful Bloemfontein.

Nigeria, needing a triumph to revive fading hopes of qualifying for adjacent year’s tourney successful North America, suffered an aboriginal stroke erstwhile Ola Aina limped disconnected the transportation successful the eighth minute.

Matters worsened successful the 25th infinitesimal erstwhile Troost-Ekong turned the shot into his ain nett to manus Bafana Bafana the lead.

Fulham defender Calvin Bassey levelled conscionable earlier halftime, but contempt dominating possession aft the break, the Eagles failed to find a winner.

Substitutes Tolu Arokodare, Samuel Chukwueze, and Chrisantus Uche each struggled to interruption down South Africa’s defence.

In a post-match connection released by NFF Director of Communications Dr. Ademola Olajire, Dessers was singled retired for stern criticism.

“Cyriel Dessers, who had an unimpressive crippled successful Uyo wherever helium was a substitute that was substituted, did not fare amended successful Bloemfontein. He was excessively dilatory to latch onto passes, failed to triumph aerial duels, and offered small successful attack,” the connection read.

The federation besides faulted Troost-Ekong for his ain goal, noting that it diminished the team’s momentum.

However, it praised Bassey for his resilience successful scoring Nigeria’s equaliser conscionable earlier the break.

Despite that infinitesimal of fightback, the NFF lamented the Eagles’ wastefulness successful the 2nd half, saying they “delivered little” and missed precocious opportunities done Arokodare and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru.

The gully leaves Nigeria with 11 points from 8 games successful Group C, portion South Africa beryllium apical with 17.

The Super Eagles indispensable present bushed Lesotho and Benin Republic successful their remaining fixtures, portion hoping rivals driblet points, to basal immoderate accidental of reaching the adjacent World Cup tourney to beryllium jointly-hosted by 3 North American countries.