The Super Eagles of Nigeria were held to a 1-1 draw by South Africa on Tuesday evening at Toyota Stadium in a tense Group C clash.
The hosts drew first blood when Nigerian captain William Troost-Ekong inadvertently scored an own goal, giving Bafana Bafana an early advantage.
Nigeria, however, fought back before halftime as Calvin Bassey rose to head home a close-range equalizer.
The match was marred by injuries for Nigeria. Nottingham Forest defender Bassey had to be withdrawn in the first half due to injury, with Bright Osayi-Samuel taking his place.
Wilfred Ndidi also limped off in the second half, forcing another substitution.
Time-wasting by the South Africans became a visible tactic, particularly after halftime. Several Bafana Bafana players were seen exaggerating minor knocks and lingering on the ground, disrupting the rhythm of the game.
Tensions boiled over in the 70th minute as both benches clashed over the delays. Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle expressed his frustration at Teboho Mokoena’s lengthy treatment, while South Africa coach Hugo Broos responded angrily.
The confrontation required the referee to step in before play could resume.
The match was further hampered by the poor state of the Free State Stadium pitch, which made flowing football difficult and limited clear scoring opportunities, leaving fans frustrated.
Officiating also came under scrutiny. CAF-appointed referee Pierre Ghislain Atcho faced criticism from several Nigerian players.
Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman was notably agitated, repeatedly gesturing at the referee and questioning decisions that seemingly allowed the South Africans to waste time unchecked.
The draw leaves the Super Eagles with mixed feelings, having battled through injuries, poor pitch conditions, and contentious officiating to secure a point on the road.