South Africa vs Nigeria – November 2018 Eagles Qualify for AFCON 2019
The Nigerian national football team have qualified for the Nations Cup holding in Cameroon in the summer of 2019. The Eagles played a 1-1 draw with South Africa at the FNB stadium in Johannesburg on saturday to seal qualification.
The Super Eagles scored first thanks to an own goal from South Africa defender Buhle Mkhwanazi. Samuel Kalu orchestrated a run down the right flank and his cross was converted past Khune by centre-back Mkhwanazi for an own goal.
The hosts responded with a well worked equalizer at 26 minutes from Lebo Mothiba, his fourth international goal in just five caps for the Bafana Bafana. Percy Tau flicked the ball past two defenders to get into the box and then delighfully passes to Mothiba who simply tapped in the ball past the Nigerian goalkeeper.
Nigeria lead the pack with 10 points from their five matches and cannot finish lower than second on the table, while South Africa have eight points, two points ahead of third-placed Libya.
Ahmed Musa scored a well worked ball for Nigeria but the effort was ruled out for offside, but replays showed that he was actually on-side.
Nigeria got a good result despite big names like Odion Ighalo missing from the side. But to be fair South Africa also had their share of absentees due to injuries.
South Africa will now have to wait until March to know if they will make the finals. At least more more point will guarantee their qualification. That could prove difficult though, as they travel to North Africa to face the Libyans in the final qualifying series.
Both sides have friendly matches on Tuesday with South Africa playing against Paraguay as Nigeria hosts Uganda.
