The South African Football Team Bafana Bafana were on Sunday 19th January, eliminated from the 2014 CHAN tournament when they were convincingly beaten 3-1 by a well-oiled Super Eagles side missing most of its superstars that won the Africa Cup of Nations last year.

In a match in which Bafana needed only a draw at Cape Town Stadium to progress to the quarter-finals, the home side again contrived to disappoint its myriad of supporters with a below par performance.

By the end of 90 minutes, Gordon Igesund’s charges were thoroughly outplayed and relieved to hear the referee’s final whistle which saved them from more agony.

The match started at an electrifying pace with both sides having no time to size each other.

The Super Eagles, looking for a result to remain in the competition pushed forward in the opening minutes forcing a number of corner kicks which seemed to trouble the Bafana Bafana backline.

Twice, the Nigerian strikers won high tussles inside the box, again exposing Bafana’s aerial weaknesses.

Tefu Mashamaite then had a snap header well-saved by Chigozie Agbim .

Moments later, Christantus Ejike (21st minute) slammed home the first goal of the match after a cross from the left flank, giving Moeneeb Josephs no chance with a sweet strike inside the box.

The goal again exposed Bafana’s perennial problems at the back as they failed to close down the Nigerian strikers.

Bafana Bafana hardly fashioned a single chance at goal and things got from bad to worse when Josephs spilled an easy attempt at goal and then fouled Ifeanyi Ede as he tried to collect the rebound.

The hard-working Ede rose to score from the spot to make it 2-0 in the 31st minute.

Bernard Parker created Bafana’s first chance in the 33rd minute but his flashing header went agonisingly wide.

Katlego Mashego could have pulled one back for Bafana at the stroke of half-time but his shot from the edge of the box went wide.

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