South Africa 1-1 Nigeria Player Ratings: Siyabonga Ngezana 7.5/10 as A Tense 1-1 Stalemate in World Cup Qualifier

This CAF World Cup Qualifiers clash between South Africa and Nigeria was a real nail-biter, a proper battle from start to finish at the Free State Stadium. It ended 1-1, and honestly, that feels about right. Neither side could really claim they deserved all three points in this match. The game was scrappy, physical, and full of moments that had us on the edge of our seats.

From our perspective, the game turned on two key moments. First, the absolute gift of an own goal from Nigeria's captain William Troost-Ekong in the 25th minute was a shocker. It handed South Africa an unexpected lead. But Nigeria fought back, and just before halftime, Calvin Bassey popped up to level the scores. What a chaotic end to the first half that was. The second half was more of a tactical stalemate, with both teams huffing and puffing but failing to blow the other's house down.

We noticed a lot of tired legs and frustrated faces by the end. The referee was a busy man, dishing out yellow cards left and right. It was a proper derby feel, intense and full of passion, but just lacked that final bit of quality to produce a winner. A draw leaves both teams with work to do in the group.

Here are South Africa Vs Nigeria Player Ratings

South Africa Player Ratings vs Nigeria

Here are South Africa Player Ratings vs Nigeria

Goalkeeper

Ronwen Williams - 6.0: The captain had a relatively quiet day for large spells. He couldn't do anything about the equalizer, a close-range finish. What stood out to us was his distribution, which was a bit hit-and-miss, losing possession 20 times. He made a couple of good high claims, but it wasn't a performance that will live long in the memory.

Defenders

Mbekezeli Mbokazi - 6.5: A steady, if unspectacular, performance before being subbed. He was solid enough, making six clearances and playing some good long balls. However, he was dribbled past once and didn't impose himself in duels as much as we'd like. A decent shift.

Zuko Mdunyelwa - 6.0: A tough outing for the defender. He struggled to contain Nigeria's attacks down his flank and was eventually substituted after 63 minutes. While he won most of his tackles, he lost the ball too often for our liking. Just wasn't his day.

Samukelo Kabini - 7.0: From our perspective, Kabini was very impressive. He was a rock at the back, winning all three of his tackles and looking composed. He read the game well, making five ball recoveries. A very reliable performance from him.

Siyabonga Ngezana - 7.5: Our man of the match for South Africa. An absolute monster at the back. He seemed to be everywhere, making a massive 11 clearances and winning every single duel he contested on the ground. The yellow card was a small blemish on an otherwise dominant and commanding display. He was the highest-rated player on the pitch for a reason.

Midfielders

Teboho Mokoena - 6.5: A typical industrious performance from Mokoena in the middle of the park. He drew four fouls, showing how much of a nuisance he was. His passing was decent, but he picked up a needless yellow card late on. He worked hard but couldn't unlock the Nigerian defence.

Bathusi Aubaas - 6.5: Very tidy in possession, with a 93% pass accuracy. He kept things simple and effective. However, he was booked for a bad foul and wasn't as involved in the defensive side of things as we'd expect, with only one ball recovery. A mixed bag.

Sipho Mbule - 6.0: A frustrating game for Mbule. He battled hard but lost 7 of his 11 duels, which tells its own story. He was dispossessed twice and couldn't provide the creative spark needed in the final third. A day where things just didn't click for him.

Oswin Reagan Appollis - 7.0: Looked like one of South Africa's brightest sparks. He was direct, completed both of his dribbles, and created a chance. We were surprised to see him taken off. His energy and willingness to run at defenders was a constant threat.

Mohau Nkota - 6.5: He was a willing runner and put in a lot of crosses, but the quality wasn't always there. Drew a few fouls and worked hard for the team. But, from our perspective, he lacked that cutting edge when it really mattered in the final third.

Forwards

Lyle Foster - 6.0: A tough and thankless task for the lone striker. He was physically dominated, losing 10 of his 14 duels and most of his aerial battles. He was caught offside twice and never really got a clear sight of goal. A frustrating evening where he was left far too isolated.

Substitutes

Thabiso Monyane - N/A: Came on for the final 25 minutes but didn't have a significant impact.

Thalente Mbatha - N/A: A late substitute who missed a decent chance from a corner.

Kamogelo Sebelebele - N/A: Didn't have enough time to influence the game.

Iqraam Rayners - N/A: Brought on in stoppage time with no time to make a mark.

Manager

H. Mkhalele - 6.5: His team was gifted a lead and was well-organized defensively, particularly Ngezana. However, they looked short of ideas in attack. The decision to withdraw Appollis was a strange one from our point of view. He secured a point, but couldn't mastermind a victory.

Nigeria Player Ratings vs South Africa

Here are Nigeria Player Ratings vs South Africa

Goalkeeper

S. Nwabali - 6.5: Left completely stranded by his captain for the own goal. Beyond that, he made one crucial save from inside the box and looked confident when coming for crosses. His distribution was a bit shaky, but he did what was asked of him.

Defenders

Ola Aina - N/A: A really unfortunate start for him. He was forced off with an injury just 10 minutes into the game. We can't really give him a rating for such a short appearance.

William Troost-Ekong - 4.0: A disastrous first half for the captain. The own goal was a moment of sheer panic, a complete misjudgment. It was no surprise to us that he was hooked at halftime. A day he will want to forget very quickly.

Benjamin Fredrick - 7.5: He was simply immense. While his captain crumbled, Fredrick stood tall. He made a staggering 12 clearances and looked composed on the ball. A truly commanding performance that belied the chaos around him. What stood out was his calmness under pressure.

Calvin Bassey - 7.5: A game of two halves for Bassey. He was a little clumsy at times, conceding three fouls. But he more than made up for it by scoring the crucial equalizer with a composed finish. He was strong in the tackle and a real presence. His goal saved a point for Nigeria.

Midfielders

Wilfred Ndidi - 6.5: Did his job effectively before his game was cut short by injury. He won his tackles and was a disruptive force in midfield. A solid, if unspectacular, 70 minutes. Nigeria missed his presence after he went off.

Ademola Lookman - 5.5: A very quiet and ineffective game from a player we expect more from. He lost possession far too easily and struggled to make any impact in the final third. The yellow card for a frustrated foul summed up his difficult evening.

Fisayo Dele-Bashiru - 7.0: He was the creative spark for Nigeria. His pass for the equalizer was perfectly weighted, a moment of real quality in a scrappy game. Despite losing most of his duels, he provided the assist that mattered. A key contribution.

Alex Iwobi - 6.0: He saw a lot of the ball and recovered it 12 times, but what did he do with it? From our perspective, not a lot. He played a lot of passes but rarely penetrated the South African defense. A busy but ultimately toothless performance.

Moses Simon - 6.0: Similar to Lookman on the other flank, Simon was largely anonymous. He couldn't get the better of his full-back and offered little threat before being substituted. A disappointing outing.

Forwards

Cyriel Dessers - 6.0: Only played the first half and was starved of service. He had one shot on target but was otherwise a peripheral figure. He was subbed at halftime as Nigeria changed their approach.

Substitutes

Bright Osayi-Samuel - 6.5: Came on early for the injured Aina and put in a solid defensive shift.

Bruno Onyemaechi - 6.0: Replaced Troost-Ekong and helped shore up the defense, but picked up a late yellow.

Tolu Arokodare - 6.0: Added a physical presence up front but missed a decent chance.

Christantus Uche - 6.0: Brought on for Ndidi, he was energetic but gave away a few silly fouls.

Samuel Chukwueze - 6.5: Looked lively in his cameo and created a chance for Lookman.

Manager

É. Chelle - 7.0: Reacted decisively at halftime after a poor first half. Taking off his captain was a bold move that paid off. His substitutions helped his team get back into the game and secure a vital away point. A good tactical response.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match is Siyabonga Ngezana