Nigeria’s Super Eagles kept their hopes of qualifying for the FIFA World Cup 2026 alive on Thursday with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Lesotho in a Group C qualifier played at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, South Africa.
Osimhen and Troost-Ekong Return as Nigeria Dominates Early Play
Head coach Eric Chelle named a strong starting XI, with the return of Victor Osimhen of Galatasaray and William Troost-Ekong from Saudi Arabia’s Al-Kholood bolstering the lineup.
The Super Eagles began with early intent as Moses Simon drove inside from the right wing in the 6th minute, testing the resilience of Lesotho’s solid defensive structure.
Missed Chances and First-Half Frustration for Super Eagles
Despite dominating ball possession, Nigeria struggled to break down Lesotho’s compact back five, often misplacing crucial passes. In the 38th minute, Osimhen came closest to opening the scoring after beating his marker and unleashing a powerful shot, but Lesotho goalkeeper Sekhoane was equal to the task.
The first half ended goalless, with Lesotho’s defensive setup effectively neutralizing Nigeria’s attacking threats.
Troost-Ekong Converts Penalty, Adams Adds Second
Nigeria’s breakthrough came in the 53rd minute when Motlomelo Mkwanazi was penalized for a handball after blocking a shot from Simon. Captain Troost-Ekong confidently slotted home the resulting penalty, placing the ball into the bottom right corner to give Nigeria a 1-0 lead.
In the 80th minute, Nigeria doubled their advantage. Osimhen, influential throughout the match, set up Akor Adams, who took a touch and drilled a low shot past the Lesotho keeper for Nigeria’s second goal.
Late Scare as Lesotho Pull One Back
Lesotho pulled one back late in the match through Hlompho Kalake, who capitalized on a defensive lapse during a corner kick to make it 2-1. His well-placed strike soared over Stanley Nwabali, giving the Crocodiles a glimmer of hope in the dying minutes.
