Sports

Super Eagles draw South Africa to qualify for 2019 AFCON

Published

5 years ago

November 17, 2018

The Super Eagles of Nigeria on Saturday drew 1 – 1 with hosts South Africa in Johannesburg to qualify for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations billed for Cameroon in June .Nigeria opened scoring after nine minutes when a solo run by Samuel Kalu saw his shot being deflected in by South African defender Buhle Mkhwanazi .

The hosts fought back and piled pressure on the Nigerian side , and after some resistance , the visiting side ’ s defence line caved in .

Lebo Mothiba finished off a pass from Percy Tau in the 26 minute to draw the home side level .
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the win moved Nigeria to the top of their 2019 AFCON Qualifiers Group E with 10 points from five matches .

South Africa are in second place with nine points from the same number of matches , while Libya who hammered Seychelles 8 – 1 in the group ’ s other match are with seven points .

The group ’ s final set of matches will come up on March 22 , with Nigeria hosting Seychelles who have one point , and Libya hosting South Africa .

Nigeria who have won three matches , drawn one and lost one look set to finish as group leaders .

They have not lost since Match Day 1 in June 2017 when they lost 0 – 2 to South Africa in Uyo .

A win in March over Seychelles , whom they beat 3 – 0 in Victoria in September , will set them far apart from either Libya or South Africa .

The Bafana Bafana need to draw against Libya , who will host them in Tunisia in March , in order to stay second and qualify.

Libya need a win to finish in second place too, and they look likely to get it based on current form .

However , all permutations can be thrown out the door if Seychelles beat Nigeria , even though this would not bar Nigeria from qualifying since it is either South Africa or Libya that can qualify.

( NAN )