Bafana Bafana of South Africa inflicted pains in the heart of Nigerians yesterday as they killed the dream of Super Eagles of defending their Africa Cup of Nations title in Equatorial Guinea next year after the two teams drew 2-2.
The South Africans at the Akwa Ibom International Stadium did fulfill their promise of stopping Nigeria from qualifying for the next year football fiesta by putting up a superlative showing that totally clipped the Eagles wings.
Nigeria therefore crash out of the 2015 AFCON having finished a disappointing third in Group A with eight points, while
Congo advanced on 10 points after they won 2-0 in Sudan with second-half goals by Francis Nganga and Ferebory Dore.
Tokelo Rantie gave South Africa the lead in the 42nd minute, when he sped past Azubuike Egwuekwe from the left flank before he fired past goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama.
Rantie scored his second goal in the 48th minute, when he sliced through the entire Nigeria defence before slotting home.
Nigeria pulled a goal back in the 68th minute through Sone Aluko after a rebound from a shot by Ike Uche which crashed against the post.
Bafana were reduced to 10 men in the 72nd minute, when Reneilwe Letsholonyane was sent off, and Eagles capitalized on this as Aluko salvaged a draw for Nigeria with a powerful shot in stoppage time.
Bafana, sporting an all-white strip, started brightly inside a packed Akwa Ibom International Stadium in Uyo.
In the fourth minute, Rantie fired the first warning, but he ought to have done a lot better when he shrugged off Omeruo inside the box, but his shot flashed wide of Enyeama’s post.
In the eighth minute, Ahmed Musa dashed away from almost his own half on a solo run, but his final effort came off the crossbar with South Africa goalkeeper Keet well beaten.
Twice in the 16th minute, Ahmed Musa was denied at point-blank range by the onrushing goalkeeper Daren Keet, just moments after the referee had overlooked a penalty appeal by the CSKA Moscow star.
In the 24th minute, Ike Uche fired at goal, but Keet held the shot firmly.