South Africa coach Hugo Broos has sparked controversy after insisting Calvin Bassey’s equaliser in Nigeria’s 1-1 World Cup qualifying draw should have been ruled out for handball.
The Fulham defender scored just before halftime to cancel out William Troost-Ekong’s early own goal, but replays suggested the ball may have brushed his arm before crossing the line.
The incident has now raised fresh debates about refereeing decisions in the crucial qualifier.
Broos, speaking after the match, admitted his team could have defended better but maintained the Super Eagles’ leveller was illegitimate.
“If we defended with more aggressiveness the goal would never arrive, and secondly it was handball,”the Belgian coach told reporters.
The result leaves Nigeria under pressure in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
The Super Eagles sit third in Group C with 11 points, six adrift of leaders South Africa, who now have 17.
For Nigeria to stand any chance of qualifying, they must win their final two games in October and hope Bafana Bafana drop points.
Meanwhile, the group standings have left many fans frustrated, given the quality of talent in the Nigerian squad.
Broos also took a dig at Nigeria’s approach to the contest.
He claimed Bafana Bafana tried to play football, while their opponents relied mostly on physicality.
“It was a game like I expected. On my side, the team who wants to play football, on the other side, a team who tried to win the game by power,” Broos added.
For the Super Eagles, the stakes could not be higher. Their hopes of reaching the tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico now depend on near-perfect performances and some luck elsewhere.
