Nigeria Super Eagles. Copyright: IMAGOxAdekunlexAjayix
South African football powerbroker Natasha Tsichlas has taken a swipe at Nigeria’s Super Eagles after their laboured 1-1 draw with Bafana Bafana in Bloemfontein on Tuesday night, Soccernet.ng reports.
Nigeria went into the game needing victory to revive their stuttering World Cup qualifying hopes but were instead left frustrated.
William Troost-Ekong’s own goal handed South Africa the lead, before Calvin Bassey rescued a point with his first-ever international goal for Nigeria.
The draw preserved Nigeria’s unbeaten away record against Bafana Bafana, but Tsichlas, a former Mamelodi Sundowns chief and now vice-president of the South African Football Association, argued that the aura once surrounding the Super Eagles has long disappeared.
“With all due respect, there’s nothing ‘super’ about the Super Eagles anymore. I remember the years when they were truly ‘super’ while playing against Bafana,” Tsichlas told KickOff.com.
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She was quick to highlight South Africa’s fluid attacking play in the first half as proof of their resurgence.
“If you look at how Bafana played, especially in the first half, it was fantastic. The passing, the skills, and the moves were unbelievable. They didn’t even look when they passed to each other. It reminded me of the beautiful football we used to play. I really enjoyed that game,” she said.
Nigeria’s equaliser, she claimed, lacked the craft and cohesion that South Africa displayed.
“And you saw the way Nigeria scored their goal,” Tsichlas added pointedly.
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The result means South Africa remain top of Group C with 17 points after eight games, three clear of Benin in second. Nigeria, level with Rwanda on 11 points, face a mountain to climb with only group winners guaranteed a place at the 2026 World Cup.
Bafana, meanwhile, need just four more points from their remaining fixtures against Zimbabwe and Rwanda to seal qualification. Tsichlas insists the players’ unity has been central to their rise.
“I know that Bafana now instils fear across Africa. The players show such commitment and skill in their play,” she continued.
“I noticed how well they pass the ball to each other. They truly understand one another. Even here in the hotels, we often sit together and laugh. I am enjoying this, particularly after a long time.”
She also revealed that Nigeria’s coach Eric Chelle had cautioned his players about South Africa’s threat.
“In fact, the Nigerian coach even warned his players about South Africa. They even complained about why he was speaking so positively about us [laughs]. Some of the Nigerian players relied heavily on their physical strength, but if football were all about physique, we would need to bring bodybuilders to play, not footballers,” she said.
Nigeria will battle Lesotho and Benin Republic in October in the final round of the qualifiers. Even, victories in the two games may not be enough to secure an automatic ticket to the World Cup for Nigeria.
Imhonlamhen Eronmhonsele
Imhonlamhen Eronmhonsele turns into a ball of passion when writing about Nigerian football and its talents, whether rising stars or established legends, locally and abroad.
From the deepest corners of the Middle East, to the green fields of the Americas, to the celebrated grounds in Europe, and the rich soils of Africa, Imhons is more than glad, usually with a glass of a tasty drink nearby, to capture the essence of the game, by connecting the dots between culture, identity, and football.