Bafana Bafana's 1-1 draw with Nigeria brings them a step closer to World Cup qualification

It was not exactly siyaya eAmerika. But South Africa, you can start getting those passports ready because qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Donald Trump-land is within reach.

In drawing 1-1 with Nigeria at the Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein on Tuesday night, Bafana Bafana edged ever so close to qualifying for the global showpiece to be co-hosted by the US as well as Canada and Mexico.

It was a tense affair that could so easily have gone either way, and the stalemate was perhaps a true reflection of a match that once again confirmed the intense rivalry between the two nations.

You knew just how edgy things were when the generally serene Hugo Broos lost his cool late in the match, remonstrating with the match officials after Teboho Mokoena had his heel clipped. Things spilled over and Broos was suddenly exchanging heated words with members of the Super Eagles’ bench.

On the pitch, things had been heated from the onset. Even though the poor condition of the surface made for a bit of an eyesore, there was no shortage of heart and desire from both sides – the outcome of this tie bound to have far-reaching effects on each country’s hopes of qualification.

In the end, the stalemate suited South Africa more than it did Nigeria, Bafana maintaining their lead of Group C on 17 points with two rounds of matches to go. The Super Eagles still trail by six points, and even their hope of Bafana being docked three points for having used an ineligible Teboho Mokoena in the 2-0 win over Lesotho back in March looks unlikely to help them.

It was thus not surprising that, after the final whistle had been blown, Bafana Bafana went to the goals on the southern side where the super fans were seated for a celebratory singalong. The point gained warranted such, because Bafana had essentially succeeded in eliminating their nemesis from the competition for the top spot.

The Bloemfontein crowd was disappointing for a match of this magnitude, but what they lacked in numbers they made up for in voice as they sang heartily through the national anthem and burst into intermittent songs as they encouraged the team to keep attacking.

They cheered every Bafana move and then went into raptures when Mohau Nkota forced an own goal out of Super Eagles captain Troost-Ekong early in the opening half. Victory looked attainable and, with Mbekezeli Mbokazi a seemingly immovable object in defence, it seemed World Cup qualification was within reach.

But then, late in the first half with the whistle for half-time looming, Bafana inexplicably went to sleep and allowed their adversaries a deliberate build-up that resulted in a goal by Calvin Chinedu Bassey. The dreadlocked Nigerian headed a cross from the right to the delight of his countrymen on the pitch, in the stands and no doubt back home in Nigeria.

Yet while he initially headed the ball, Bassey also handled it – his outstretched arm the last part of his body to make contact before it beat Ronwen Williams. With no Video Assistant Referee (VAR) in use, the goal was allowed to stand, leaving Bafana with a tough task for the second half.

They did a good job of holding on and keeping the marauding Nigerians at bay, although it was touch and go for most of the half as they gave their partisan followers heart palpitations by often allowing the visitors a sniff at goal.

In the end, it finished in a stalemate – a result that suited Bafana more than it did Nigeria, even though South Africa cannot quite chant siyaya eAmerika just yet.