The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has openly criticized striker Cyriel Dessers and team captain William Troost-Ekong after the Super Eagles were held to a 1-1 draw against South Africa in Tuesday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier.
Heading into the match, Nigeria needed all three points to keep their qualification hopes alive. However, things took a bad turn in the 25th minute when Troost-Ekong mistakenly put the ball into his own net, giving the visitors an early lead.
Fortunately, just before half-time, Calvin Bassey came to the rescue with a well-timed header, leveling the score for the Super Eagles. Despite the equalizer, Nigeria couldn’t find a winning goal and had to settle for a single point.
In a strongly worded statement, NFF Director of Communications, Dr. Ademola Olajire, singled out Dessers for an underwhelming display.
“Cyriel Dessers, who had an unimpressive game in Uyo where he turned out to be a substitute that was substituted, did not have a better game as he was too slow to latch onto passes, could not win aerial balls, and did little in bringing alive the Nigerian attack,” the statement read.
Troost-Ekong’s own goal also came under heavy criticism, as the NFF described the mistake as a blow to the team’s momentum:
“The Super Eagles’ fighting spirit was diminished for a period after team captain William Ekong inadvertently swept the ball into his own net in the 25th minute, wrong-footing Stanley Nwabali to give the Bafana the lead and great impetus.”
With the draw, Nigeria’s qualification journey has become even more challenging, leaving fans frustrated and calling for stronger performances in the remaining fixtures.
