Nigeria will be unable to defend the AFCON title won in 2013 as a disappointing 2-2 draw with South Africa in Uyo on Wednesday night ensured that the African power house will miss out from next year's African cup of nations.
South Africa went into the clash against their Group A rivals Nigeria having already booked their place at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) tournament in Equatorial Guinea.
Bafana Bafana striker Tokelo Rantie nearly handed the visitors an early lead in the fourth, after the Super Eagles defence made a mistake at the back, but the Bournemouth forward balloned his effort over the cross bar.
The hosts' first chance of the match came four minutes later, when CSKA Moscow winger Ahmed Musa beat Bafana defender Erick Mathoho for pace before unleashing a powerful strike which hit the cross-bar, with Bafana goalkeeper Dareen Keet rooted to the ground.
In the 16th minute, Musa had two great back to back opportunites, finding himself in a one on one situations against Keet twice. However, the Kortrijk shot-stopper denied the 22-year-old attacker on both occasions.
Keet was again called into action in the 24th minute, and this time it was Nigerian forward Ikechukwu Uche, whose strike from 30-yards out was well gathered by the South African goalkeeper.Seven minutes before half-time, Bafana coach Ephraim 'Shakes' Mashaba introduced Free State State forward Moeketsi Sekola for Orlando Pirates striker Kermit Erasmus.
In the 41st minute, Rantie broke down the left into the Nigerian box, before beating Super Eagles keeper and captain Vincent Enyeama on his near post, to hand the South Africans the lead.
South Africa were leading 1-0 during the half-time break, thanks to Rantie's late strike in the first-half.
Just three minutes into the second-half, former Orlando Pirates striker Rantie grabbed his brace, after out-muscling Nigeria center-half Azubuike Egwuekwe on the edge of the box, then hitting the back of the net.
Nigeria had a chance to pull one back in the 59th minute, when Fenerbahce striker Emmanuel Emenike won a free header inside the Bafana box, but the 27-year-old bulky forward's effort went straight at Keet in Bafana goal.
The Super Eagles kept on pushing and pressing in search of a goal, and they were rewarded ten minutes later, after substitute Sone Aluko pounced onto a loose ball inside the box, and hit the back of the net, to make it 2-1.
In the 70th South Africa midfielder Letsholonyane was red-carded after collecting his second yellow card of the night, and Mashaba's side had to play with 10 men on the pitch for the remaining minutes.
Nigeria kept pressing in desperation as their 2015 Afcon hopes took strain, and Aluko scored in injury-time, making it 2-2.
The match at 2-2, and Nigeria failed to qualify to the 2015 Afcon, after finishing third in Group A.
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