The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has criticized Cyriel Dessers and William Troost-Ekong following the Super Eagles’ 1-1 draw against South Africa in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier.
How the Game Unfolded
Nigeria went into the match needing all three points to boost their qualification hopes. However, the Super Eagles fell behind in the 25th minute when captain Troost-Ekong accidentally put the ball into his own net, handing the Bafana Bafana the lead.
Just before halftime, Calvin Bassey equalized with a powerful header to bring Nigeria level.
NFF Statement on Dessers
In a post-match statement, NFF Director of Communications, Dr Ademola Olajire, strongly criticized Dessers’ performance.
“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 NFF noted.
The striker was substituted at halftime after another poor outing.
Troost-Ekong’s Costly Error
The federation also highlighted Troost-Ekong’s own goal as a major turning point in the match.
“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,” the statement added.
What’s Next for Nigeria
The Super Eagles will now need to regroup quickly as they continue their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign, with every point proving vital in the race to secure a ticket to the tournament.
