We slept 2am on Thursday before the match with Nigeria – South Africa coach Broos

South Africa coach Hugo Broos has revealed his players had a long travel to Nigeria for their World Cup qualifiers and were only able to sleep by 2am on Thursday before the match on Friday, suggesting fatigue. 

South Africa and Nigeria played out a 1-1 draw at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo on Friday night. 

Broos said he’s proud of his players despite their travel and thought they played fantastic football. 

“We think that the result is correct,” the 72-year-old Belgian said. “We had our chances. Nigeria had their chances. 

“But I have to congratulate my players. What you don’t know is that we had a terrible travel to Nigeria on Wednesday and only slept by 2am on Thursday. We spent 20 hours on the way. 

“So when you see the mentality of the team today, I can only be proud of my players. It was a tough game against a good team. But in the first half, I think we played fantastic football.”

Meanwhile, Nigeria remain without a victory following the draw with South Africa – a result which leaves Lesotho top of Group C after the minnows registered an upset over Zimbabwe earlier on Friday.

Group C is wide open after first-half goals from Rethabile Rasethuntsa and Jane Thabantso gave Lesotho, ranked 149th in the world, a 2-0 win away against Zimbabwe in a tie played in neutral Johannesburg.

Nigeria, two points adrift in fifth place, will now hope to register their first win away against Benin on Monday.