South Africa’s bid to secure top spot in Group C hit an unexpected snag as resilient Niger earned a hard-fought goalless draw that leaves the quarter-final picture delicately poised heading into the final round of fixtures.
The Bafana Bafana arrived at Kampala’s Nelson Mandela Stadium knowing victory would virtually guarantee their passage to the knockout stages, but they reckoned without the stubborn resistance of a Niger side with nothing left to lose. What unfolded was a masterclass in defensive organisation from Harouna Doula’s men, who absorbed everything South Africa could throw at them.
The match’s most controversial moments came courtesy of VAR interventions that twice denied South Africa penalty appeals. Referee Bouchra Kerboubi initially pointed to the spot in the 18th minute before reversing her decision after consulting the video replay system. A similar scenario played out in first-half stoppage time, leaving the South African bench visibly frustrated as they trooped off at the interval.
Niger’s gameplan was clear from the outset – stay compact, make life difficult for South Africa’s creative players, and look to hit on the counter when opportunities arose. The strategy worked to perfection in the opening period, with their defensive shape remaining intact despite sustained pressure from Murfy Ntseki’s side.
The second half brought a flurry of substitutions as both coaches sought to alter the dynamic. South Africa introduced fresh attacking options in their desperation to find a breakthrough, whilst Niger remained disciplined in their approach, happy to absorb pressure and run down the clock.
Despite enjoying territorial dominance and creating the better chances, South Africa found themselves continually thwarted by Niger’s well-drilled backline. The longer the match remained scoreless, the more the momentum seemed to shift towards the underdogs, who grew in confidence as their resistance held firm.
The final whistle brought contrasting emotions. For Niger, it represented a first point of the tournament and a measure of pride restored after earlier defeats. For South Africa, it felt like two points dropped in their quest for automatic qualification.
The result leaves Group C perfectly balanced entering the final matchday. South Africa now face hosts Uganda in what amounts to a winner-takes-all encounter, whilst Algeria need only avoid defeat against Niger to secure their place in the last eight. Uganda remain group leaders but know their destiny is no longer entirely in their own hands.
