Ndidi and Simon fell just before they entered the pitch
In a moment that had fans in stitches, Wilfred Ndidi provided unexpected comic relief before Nigeria’s tense World Cup qualifier against South Africa on Tuesday, September 9, 2025.
As the Super Eagles lined up in the tunnel ahead of kick-off, the former Leicester City midfielder suddenly slipped, tumbling head over heels to the floor.
His awkward fall sent fellow teammate Moses Simon sprawling after trying to dodge the collision.
Thankfully, next in line, Fulham’s Alex Iwobi, managed to maintain his footing, looking more worried than amused, before cracking a faint smile as his teammates regrouped with sheepish grins.
South Africa dent Nigeria’s World Cup dream
Fans on social media mostly found Ndidi’s slip hilarious, with some likening it to a cartoon scene.
Others joked about the irony of two players falling before the match even began, while one supporter suggested the blunder mirrored Nigeria’s disorganized performance on the pitch.
On the pitch, the drama continued. South Africa seized the lead in Group C via an own goal from William Troost-Ekong.
Yet Nigeria struck back before halftime, with Fulham defender Calvin Bassey heading home from an Osayi-Samuel delivery to level the score.
The 1–1 draw, however, left Nigeria’s qualification hopes hanging by a thread.
The Super Eagles now sit outside the automatic qualification spot for the 2026 World Cup.
With only two matches left, they now face an uphill task to secure a place in the expanded tournament, with South Africa and Benin firmly in contention.
Watch the video below:
FKA/EB
Meanwhile, watch the post-match conferences of Otto Addo, Tom Saintfiet and highlights of Ghana vs Mali game
