The NFF criticised Cyriel Dessers and William Troost-Ekong after Nigeria’s 1-1 draw with South Africa left their World Cup qualification hopes hanging by a thread.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has criticised Super Eagles striker Cyriel Dessers and faulted captain William Troost-Ekong following Tuesday’s 1-1 draw with South Africa in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier in Bloemfontein.
Nigeria, needing victory to revive their qualification hopes, suffered early misfortune when Ola Aina limped off in the eighth minute before Troost-Ekong’s 25th-minute own goal handed Bafana Bafana the lead.
Fulham defender Calvin Bassey levelled just before half-time, but the Eagles failed to convert second-half dominance into goals despite chances for substitutes Tolu Arokodare, Samuel Chukwueze and Chrisantus Uche.
In a statement issued by NFF spokesperson Dr Ademola Olajire, the federation singled out Dessers, who was withdrawn at half-time, for criticism. “Cyriel Dessers…was too slow to latch onto passes, could not win aerial balls and did little in bringing alive the Nigerian attack,” it read.
The NFF praised Bassey’s resilience but lamented Nigeria’s “little” second-half delivery. The Super Eagles now face must-win fixtures against Lesotho and Benin Republic.