Bafana Bafana edge closer to World Cup dream despite stalemate against Nigeria

Hugo Broos' charges top the standings in Group C after moving up to 17 points after eight games, and have a six-point lead over the Super Eagles with two matches remaining.

It was the home side that started the contest well as they unsettled the Nigeria team with some tough tackling and fluent passes from the attacking players.

Bafana would take the lead after 25 minutes when Teboho Mokoena played a superb through ball to Mohau Nkota, who hit a dangerous low cross into the box only for visiting captain William Troost-Ekong to turn the ball into his own net.

After a slow start, Nigeria gradually grew into the contest and found the equaliser on the stroke of halftime when Calvin Bassey arrived at the far-post to bundle the ball into the back of the net following a Fisayo Dele-Bashiru cross.

The Super Eagles had the better of the exchanges after the interval but almost went behind again when South Africa defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi tried a speculative long-range effort, trying to catch goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali off his line, but the ball went just over the cross-bar.

The victory was more imperative for the Super Eagles given the standings in the group but they did not have the firepower without injured striker Victor Osimhen to penetrate the home defence.

In the end, both teams were forced to settle for a stalemate that Broos and Bafana will no doubt be the more happier about.

South Africa will conclude their qualifying campaign next month when they face Zimbabwe (away) and Rwanda (home) while Nigeria take on Lesotho (away) and Benin (home).

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