Super Eagles defender Calvin Bassey has finally reacted to the heated controversy surrounding his equalising goal in Nigeria’s 1-1 draw against South Africa during the World Cup qualifiers. The highly debated strike, which came in the first half, has dominated discussions across Africa, with fans and pundits split over whether it should have stood.
The drama began after Nigeria fell behind due to an unfortunate own goal from captain William Troost-Ekong. Minutes later, Bassey found the net for Nigeria, leveling the score. However, replays showed the ball appeared to come off his hand before crossing the line, sparking outrage from the Bafana Bafana players, who immediately protested to the referee. With no VAR technology available for the qualifier, the referee allowed the goal to stand, sending Nigerian fans into celebration while leaving South African supporters furious.
Speaking after the tense encounter, Bassey expressed pride in achieving a personal milestone for his country despite the controversy. “Honoured to wear this shirt and score my first goal. We didn’t win, but we keep believing if anyone can do it, it is God,” he shared in a heartfelt message posted on social media. The defender also revealed that he intends to frame his match jersey as a lasting reminder of the special moment.
While Nigerian fans hailed the goal as a turning point in the game, reactions across the football world have been sharply divided. Former Super Eagles goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi defended the referee’s decision, arguing that in the absence of VAR, the officials had no choice but to allow the goal. On the other hand, South African legend Itumeleng Khune criticised the officiating, calling the incident an “obvious handball” and urging CAF to improve standards in crucial qualifiers. Bafana coach Hugo Broos echoed the sentiment, insisting that his team had been “robbed” of victory in Bloemfontein.
Online, the debate raged even hotter. Some Nigerian supporters dismissed South Africa’s complaints, claiming Bafana Bafana should have done more to secure the win rather than relying on a disputed call. Others criticised the Super Eagles’ overall performance, warning that the team must improve drastically to stand a chance of reaching the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Netizens’ reactions…
@allenjacksonministriesprayersec: “Why is South Africa 🇿🇦 celebrating over a home goal? 😂 If they are good why didn’t they score another goal. #SSFootball Nigeria 🇳🇬 is the best.”
@oos_life: “It’s the scrambling the commentator was talking about. Nigeria we depend on, now we saw it. They are strong, lucky and scrambling to the goals.”
@AdemulegunDO: “Daniel is out of his mind. The world agrees with me right now, the most overrated team Nigeria ever produced. These are not Super Eagles.”
With two qualifiers remaining, Nigeria’s path to the World Cup remains uncertain. The Super Eagles must now secure wins in their upcoming matches and rely on favorable results elsewhere if they are to book their ticket to the 2026 tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Watch the video below…
Bassey’s equaliser stands in Bloem 👀
📺 Stream #WCQ on DStv: https://t.co/B0jLrQW5cc#SSDiski pic.twitter.com/dhIS3vcJc3
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) September 9, 2025