BAFANA Bafana coach Gordon Igesund will quickly want to forget last night's game, but it is unlikely South Africa and his bosses will let him.

Bafana were booted out of the African Nations Championship (Chan) after going down 3-1 to Nigeria - a team that had looked disjointed through out this tournament until last night when they produced their best performance in the competition.

A third-placed finish in a tournament that appeared designed for hosts, Bafana, to clinch on home soil only revealed the crisis SA soccer is in.

The report will read that while the Premier Soccer League pulls in big revenue in sponsors and broadcast deals, its national team, which boasted a strong local-based side, is humbling if not mediocre.

Igesund had made as many as four changes to his line-up, once against fiddling with the team just as he did in Bafana's 1-1 draw against Mali last week - a game that made life difficult for the national team coach and his men given their poor record against Nigeria.

On the eve of this final Group A clash, which SA only needed a draw from to progress to the quarterfinals following a win against Mozambique and a stalemate when head-to-head with Mali, Igesund confirmed Bafana had been dealt a major blow.

Captain and goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune missed last night's encounter after injuring his ankle in their second group match at the same venue last week and was replaced by eratic Moeneeb Josephs.

With last night's result, the Super Eagles getting two first-half goals from Christantus Ejike and Ifeanyi Ede, the writing was on the wall for Igesund.

And when Ejike added his second and Nigeria's third of the night, it became increasingly clear that Igesund's bosses would struggle to sit on the fence about the coach's job.

No one would have seen this coming. The Cape Town Stadium was almost packed to the rafters for the first time since the Chan tournament kicked off on January 11.

The Super Eagles's skipper and goalkeeper Chigozie Agbim, who had been the butt of jokes and booed by his own fans, was on fire last night. And when Nigeria were reduced to 10-men with Kwambe Solomon getting sent off in the 72nd minute, the hosts were perhaps given a lifeline and the script would change.

However, two minutes later, Vuyo Mere, the Bafana right-back was also sent for an early shower for a second yellow card. That summed it up following a nightmare fist half.

Even though Bernard Parker scored from yet another penalty, it was way too late for Bafana to stage a comeback. Nigeria were long through. Khune's absence really hurt Bafana.

In the 22nd minute, Mere had been beaten in an aerial challenge and that led to the opening goal.

And Josephs fouled Fuad Salami in the 32nd minute to give the Super Eagles a penalty which Ede converted with ease.

"This is not my lowest point in football because I really think we have made great strides. I am at peace with myself at the moment and I know my contract only comes up in June," said Igesund afterwards.

"We weren't good enough and the opposition were physically stronger than us. For me there was no clear mandate from Safa to win this tournament. But if Safa decide I should go early and I will accept that."