Champions Nigeria will not defend their crown in Equatorial Guinea next year after they drew 2-2 at home to South Africa on Wednesday.
Nigeria finished a disappointing third in Group A with eight points, while Congo advanced on 10 points after they won 1-0 in Sudan with a second-half goal by Francis Nganga.
Tokelo Rantie gave South Africa the lead in the 42nd minute, when he sped past Azubuike Egwuekwe from the left flank before he fired past goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama.
Rantie scored his second goal in the 48th minute, when he sliced through the entire Nigeria defence before slotting home.
Nigeria pulled a goal back in the 68th minute through substitute Sone Aluko after a rebound from a shot by Ike Uche which crashed against the post.
In stoppage time, Aluko salvaged a draw for the home with a powerful shot.
Bafana were reduced to 10 men in the 72nd minute, when Reneilwe Letsholonyane was sent off.
Bafana, sporting an all-white strip, started brightly inside a packed Akwa Ibom International Stadium in Uyo.
In the fourth minute, Rantie fired the first warning, but he ought to have done a lot better when he shrugged off off-form Kenneth Omeruo inside the box, but his shot flashed wide of Enyeama’s post.
In the eighth minute, Ahmed Musa dashed away from almost his own half on a solo run, but his final effort came off the crossbar with South Africa goalkeeper Keet well beaten.
Twice in the 16th minute, Ahmed Musa was denied at point-blank range by the onrushing goalkeeper Daren Keet, just moments after the referee had overlooked a penalty appeal by the CSKA Moscow star.
They will be misses Nigeria will live to regret.
In the 24th minute, Ike Uche fired at goal, but Keet held the shot firmly.
Eagles starting XI vs South Africa
Vincent Enyeama – Efe Ambrose, Juwon Oshaniwa, Kenneth Omeruo, Azubuike Egwuekwe – Raheem Lawal, Mikel Obi, Ogenyi Onazi – Emmanuel Emenike, Ikechukwu Uche, Ahmed Musa
MATCH | VENUE | REFEREE |
GROUP STAGE | UYO |
NIGERIA GOALS | SOUTH AFRICA GOALS | ||
Sone Aluko (68') | Tokelo Rantie (42') | ||
Sone Aluko (90 + 4') | Tokelo Rantie (48') | ||
CAUTIONS | DISMISSALS | CAUTIONS | DISMISSALS |
1 | 2 | 1 | |
NIGERIA STARTING LINEUP | SOUTH AFRICA STARTING LINEUP | ||
SUBSTITUTIONS | |||
![]() Sone Aluko
Forward/Striker
53'
![]() 0
|
![]() Moeketsi Sekola
Midfielder
40'
![]() 0
|
||
![]() Samuel Aaron
Forward/Striker
75'
![]() 0
|
![]() Andile Jali
Midfielder
71'
![]() 0
|
||
CARDS | |||
![]() Azubuike Egwuekwe
Defender
77'
![]() 0
|
![]() Reneilwe Letsholonyane
Midfielder
23'
![]() 0
|
||
![]() Erick Mathoho
Defender
64'
![]() 0
|
|||
KEY |
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