It is incredible but true: Defending champions Nigeria will not be in Equatorial Guinea when the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) kicks off to defend the title they won in sensational style in South Africa in February last year. That is the sad reality after the Super Eagles struggled to a two-all draw against visiting Bafana Bafana of South Africa at the Akwa Ibom International Stadium Uyo on the final day of the qualifiers.

The match, which ended minutes ago, started with the visitors looking sharper and more purposeful while the Eagles looked edgy, easily giving away the ball.

Disaster struck in the 43rd minute when Tokelo Rantie, rampaging on the left flank, ghosted past the fleet-footed Nigerian defence before smashing the ball past previously untested Vincent Enyeama. Three minutes on the restart, Rantie stretched the humiliation after stealing the ball off an apparently half-fit Kenneth Omeruo before once more beating Enyeama to make it 2-0.

Coach Stephen Keshi pulled out Raheem Lawal for Sone Aluko in the 53rd minute in what turned out to be his best decision on the night. Aluko, it was, who accounted for Nigeria’s two goals: he first found the net behind Darren Keet in the 68th minute off a rebound of Ike Uche’s shot that hit the post, grabbing the second goal four minutes into injury time.

The result left Nigeria on 8 points, which proved to be inadequate as Congo beat Sudan 1-0 away to finish with 10 points and take the second ticket after leaders South Africa, who ended their campaign with 11 points.

The South Africans, who played with a man down from the 71st minute following a second bookable offence that earned Reneilwe Letsholonyane a red card, will now be flying to Equatorial Guinea in style while cup holders Nigeria brace up to watch ‘Africa’s World Cup’ on TV. Indeed, how are the mighty fallen!

•Photo shows two-goal scorer Sone Aluko.