Four days after Nigeria’s Super Eagles suffered a 0-1 defeat against the Cranes of Uganda, the team recorded a 1-1 draw against South Africa’s Bafana Bafana at the Mbombella Stadium, Nelspruit.
The Daniel Amokachi-led Eagles took the lead through Ahmed Musa’s 85th wonder goal and was coasting home for another memorable victory against their South African opponent until Zungu struck in the final minutes of the added time to level the score.
The Bafana Bafana, supported by over 18,000 home crowd had dominated the match without finding the target. However, the opportunity to score came knocking when Geofery Oboabona fouled Serero inside the penalty area in the 61th minute with the referee awarding a penalty. But debutant goal keeper, Daniel Akpeyi saved Andile Jali’s spot kick and kept Nigeria in the tie.
Bafana Bafana players continued their incursions into Nigerian territory in search of decisive goal until Ahmed Musa, Super Eagle’s stand-in captain, lashed on a sublime pass outside the penalty area to unleash a ferocious curling effort past Itumeleng Khune.
Having successfully pinned down the rampaging South Africans, as time ticked towards final whistle, Zungu stabbed the ball into the net after Akpeyi parried Thuso Phala’s close range effort in the third minute of stoppage time to tie the game.
Despite, failing to beat a weak Super Eagles, South Africa’s coach, Shake Mashaba said he was proud of the team’s performance. “I’d like to say well done to our boys, they played very well, it’s just unfortunate that we couldn’t win the game,” he declared.
“When we took the game to them, just having that little bit of mobility in the open spaces, we came out strong; the only thing we still need to address is finishing,” Mashaba added.
By Olisemeka Obeche
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