Nigeria Fail To Beat South Africa

Nigeria's Super Eagles drew against the South African counterpart and lost its qualification spot to the next African Cup of Nations (AFCON) billed to be hosted in Eq. Guinea.

Sone Aluko's late double strike failed to lift Africa's biggest nation to Africa's biggest sports competition.

The Eagles had been playing well at the start of the game, but Ahmed Musa failed to make the Bafana Bafana pay after missing two one on one opportunity.

READ ALSO: 3 Players Keshi Should Drop For Victory

The South African keeper Keet denied the CSKA striker twice in close range in the first half.

Then, at the end of the first half, the Eagles were stunned when Tokelo Rantie out paced both Eagles' defenders and slotted the ball past Enyeama.

At the turn of the half it seemed like Dejavu all over as 5 minutes in, Rantie did it again.

The Super Eagles then struggled to make a chance count as multiple shots fell either less power or way over.

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Then Sone Aluko came in and the game changed a bit.

The Hull City striker slotted the ball into the net after Uche's shot deflected off the post and straight to him.

Then Bafana Bafana had their player, Renielwe Letsholonyane, red carded after he lunged in a tackle carelessly and got booked for a second yellow.

The Eagles failed to materialize their opportunity and could only score on added time, when Aluko once again moved past his defender and shot the ball past Keet for the second time tonight.

The Eagles failed to create anymore chance, as South Africa ran down the clock.

Keshi's boys also fail to qualify for the best loser position as DR Congo had beaten Sierra Leone 3-1 earlier today and have 9 points, a point more than the Eagles.

Play by Play below:

The game is over, it's Nigeria 2-2 South Africa

Enyeama saves the team with a wonderful save.

Nigeria now has one minute to score a third and qualify.

He ran past his man and slotted the ball in with his right leg to give the Eagles a chance of qualification.

Goal for Nigeria! Sone Aluko scores, now 2-2

Sone wins a corner for Nigeria. But it is wasted.

5 mins extra time

89 mins:  Samuel with another shot, corner for Nigeria, the corner is short to Onazi, whose shot is caught.

87 mins: Samuel holds the ball up well, but his shot is way deflected, corner is claimed by the Keeper.

86 mins: Uche brilliantly dribbles the ball in the penalty area but his quick shot is straight to the keeper.

84 mins: Corner for Nigeria, This time it's played short to Mikel, whose shot bounces out of the SA keepers hands but is claimed.

SA players continue their time-wasting tactics.

82 mins: Samuel's dangerous cross into the 18 yard box is cleared out.

80 mins: Emenike's shot is off a bit after a good one two with Mikel.

79 mins: Musa goes down in the penalty area but the ref once again fails to blow.

76 mins: Egwukwe is judged to have illegally brought down Rantie, foul for SA

Samuel comes in for Omeruo

73 mins: Musa finally out paces his defender but his cross is way off for Emenike to nod into the open net.

71 mins: Onazi once again has an opportunity to shot, but his effort is way off.

Red Card to South Africa's Letsholonya, his second yellow of the day.

Jali comes on for SA.

69 mins: Mikel goes down in the penalty area after being pushed but the ref is having none of it.

68 mins: Nigeria 1-2 South Africa.

Ike Uche Sone Aluko slots the ball into the net after Uche's shot  hits the post.

Goal for Nigeria!

64 mins: Emenike wins Nigeria a corner but its nodded away and Onazi shoots it over the post.

63 mins: Uche is held back, yellow card to Matholo.

62 mins: Sone get himself free but he shoots the ball way wide .

Congo has scored against Sudan, now 0-1.

59 mins: Musa wins a corner for Nigeria, but the low cross is cleared away.

58 mins: Ambrose crosses the ball and Emenike header goes straight to the keeper. still 0-0 in Sudan.

57 mins: SA get a foul as Aluko is judged to have raised his foot too high.

54 mins: The Eagles seem all over the place, can't seem to get one clear chance again. Lefted ball to Uche is claimed by the keeper who goes down, and now being treated.

52 mins: Aluko comes on for Lawal.

49 mins: Eagles 0 -2 South Africa

Rantie once again out muscles Omeruo off the ball and slots the ball into the net after going past Enyeama.

Goal to South Africa!

46 mins: Mikel has a shot but its lacking power and SA Keeper picks it up.

The second half begins: Sudan still playing 0-0 against Congo.

Half time: Eagles 0 - 1 South Africa

45 mins: Mikel's lovely pass to Uche is ruled out, cause Uche was offside.

44 mins: Nigeria stunned by the goal, which went against the flow of the game, can SA do a snatch and grab in Uyo.

42 mins: Rantie out ran both eagles defender to slot the ball into the net.

Goal South Africa!

40 mins: Enyeama's deep ball finds no one, as Uche can't is far off to make use of the pass.

SA with the first change, Ndulula comes in for the pacy Erasmus.

38 mins: Eagles attack waiting on each other to make the needed run, creativity seems lacking.

35 mins: Egwuekwe gets beat by pace but Omeruo is on hand to defend and Emenike goes forward to bull his way through a couple of SA players.

32 mins: Egwuekwe not allowing the pacy SA strikers to get past him so far this night.

31 mins: Uche proving how good he could hold the ball up for the eagles but support is slow to come.

30 mins: Mikel releases Musa on the left, but the CSKA man fails to beat his defender.

28 mins: The game fast paced start has now slowed down as both teams now wary of the opponents threat. The fans have started singing, All we are saying, give us more goals.

26 mins: Uche gets stuck in the 18 yard box, fails to get his shot off. Emenike is called offside.

23 mins: Uche tries a shot from 28 yard line but the keeper saves the shot.

22 mins: Keeper gets back after receiving treatment, Emenike with a hard challenge, overlooked by the ref.

20 mins: SA's brilliant keeper goes down, clutching his leg, game is temporally stopped, player on the sidelines getting water and receiving instructions.

18 mins: SA now keeping a high line and the Eagles battling hard to get possession of the ball.

The keeper had this time outstretched his leg to get the ball away.

16 mins: Again Musa is left one on one with the keeper and this time again can't seem to beat the SA big man in the post.

16 mins: Musa is one on one with the keeper, but the SA shot stopper saves the shot.

15 mins: Oshaniwa goes down in the box but the ref waves his appeal away.

13 mins: Egwuekwe proving to be a brick wall here tonight as he wins the Goal kick for Nigeria.

12 mins: Musa proving what kind of nuisance he is, as he wins a corner for Nigeria at the left. Corner too long, throw in for SA.

11 mins: Onazi's over the top pass to Emenike is way too long for the big man to catch.

9 mins: Uche is alone with one defender on him at the left flank but fails to beat his man.

8 mins: Omeruo comes up big to deny SA cross, the corner is defended out.

7 mins: Musa dribbles past the S.A defence but his shot hits the post, Uche recovers the ball and his cross goes to out for a goal kick.

6 mins: Oshaniwa's pass for Emenike is way off and the Fenerbahce man watches the ball go off for a goal kick to S.A

5 mins: S.A launches their second counter of the game after gaining the ball from Eagles midfield.

3 mins: S.A's striker gets past Egwuekwe who then falls down, but the strike is way over Enyeama's post.

2 mins: They win a corner off Egwuekwe but, the Eagles nod it away.

1 mins: S.A start off with better control, making the Eagles chase for the ball.

Kick Off: SA kick off.

Mikel will have to overcome Furman, for Eagles to achieve a result today.

Enyeama and South African Captain Dean Furman talk to the refs after exchanging greeting with each other.

He also cheekishly asked for the home, Governor Akpabio promised him after their AFCON 2013 win.

And Captain Enyeama is really feeling good to be back home in Akwa Ibom and also asking the Governor to maintain it.  

Here is Ike Uche after yesterday's practice getting ready for the game.

Lets wish him a good recovery.