A stoppage time goal from Bongani Zungu secured a 1-1 draw for South Africa against a Nigerian team that lacked colour and understanding in an international friendly match played at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit yesterday.
Bafana Bafana dominated most of the game, and the Nigerian team were bereft of ideas with Andile Jali denied from the spot by goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi who turned out to be the hero of the Eagles.
Musa
Ahmed Musa looked to have provided the sucker punch with five minutes remaining, but Zungu popped up with virtually the last kick of the game to earn a draw for the home side.
Aaron Samuel forced Itumeleng Khune into an early save. The burly forward dusted himself off after being fouled by Erick Mathoho before firing his left-footed free-kick from 25 yards straight at the South African stopper, who was up to the task.
The hosts conjured up their first chance with six minutes on the clock. A well worked one-two between Bongani Zungu and Thulani Hlatshwayo culminating in a first time effort by the Sundowns man, who was denied by a leaping Akpeyi in the Nigerian goals.
Nigeria enjoyed the lion’s share of possession in the opening half-hour, but South Africa looked dangerous on the counter with Thulani Serero, Tokelo Rantie and Sibusiso Vilakazi linking up well. The latter saw his header attempt following a swift move fly wide in the 22nd minute.
Leon Balogun produced a superb block to deny Rantie three minutes later. The Bournemouth striker found himself with a sight at goal, but the Super Eagles defender was in the right place at the right time to deny the Bafana Bafana speedster.
Bafana Bafana started to dominate as the half grew on, with Oupa Manyisa directing his free-kick from close range just over Akpeyi’s crossbar in the 38th minute.
Shakes Mashaba’s men ended the half on a positive note, with Rantie’s pass just out of reach of a Serero who would’ve had an easy finish had he better timed his surge into the area.
Both teams were restricted to shots from range in early exchanges of the second stanza, with Serero and Musa sending respective free-kick attempts wide of goal.
Bafana Bafana had a perfect opportunity to open the scoring just after the hour mark after Serero was brought down inside the area. Jali duly stepped up but was denied by Akpeyi before Nelson Ogbonnaya almost turned the rebound into the back of his own net.
South Africa continued to push forward as they went in search of their first win over their rivals 11 years, but as is often the case the hosts were punished for failing to make their dominance count.
CSKA Moscow attacker Musa cut in from the left flank before curling an unstoppable effort past Khune from the edge of the area in the 85th minute.
With time running out the Super Eagles looked to have won it, but Zungu pounced after Akpeyi parried Thuso Phala’s close range effort in the third minute of stoppage time.
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