Former Nigeria striker Jonathan Akpoborie has made a stunning claim about the Super Eagles’ World Cup qualifier against South Africa in Bloemfontein, saying the hosts deliberately chose a location that would put Nigeria at a disadvantage, Footynaija.com reports.
The clash on September 9 ended in a 1-1 draw, a result that left Nigeria in a tough position in the race for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Super Eagles, who had earlier beaten Rwanda 1-0 in Uyo, needed a win to catch up with Bafana Bafana but instead dropped more points on the road. The outcome piled more pressure on head coach Eric Chelle and his squad, who now face an uphill battle in Group C.
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Akpoborie pointed to poor planning and South Africa’s tactical choice of venue as reasons why Nigeria struggled.
“We played our game on a Saturday, why not on Friday? South Africa played on Friday and were already waiting for us at home. We had to travel on Sunday, then trained just once on Monday, and played on Tuesday. That’s not preparation,” he said in a report by The Nation.
The former Super Eagles forward dismissed concerns about the poor pitch in Bloemfontein and insisted that the real issue was the climate.
“It’s not about the field. South Africa took us to the hottest part of their Country because they know our boys play in Europe and can’t cope with the heat,” he added.
Reflecting on his own playing days, Akpoborie compared the current set-up with how the team used to adapt for tough conditions on the continent.
“When we were playing, if we had a game in Zambia, we’d camp in Kenya for 10 days to adjust to the climate. What’s missing now is proper planning. These are all management issues,” he explained.
