The Super Eagles of Nigeria kept their 2026 FIFA World Cup dreams alive with a narrow 2-1 victory over Lesotho on Friday night at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, South Africa. With just one qualifier left, the stakes couldn’t have been higher for Eric Chelle’s men, who entered the match trailing both Benin and South Africa by three points in CAF Group C. Only the group winner is guaranteed a ticket to the world’s biggest football stage, and Nigeria’s hopes now hinge on a dramatic final matchday showdown.
From the outset, this clash was billed as a must-win for Nigeria, but the first half was anything but straightforward for the Super Eagles. Despite boasting attacking talents like Victor Osimhen and Tolu Arokodare, along with creative midfielders Alex Iwobi and Ademola Lookman, Nigeria struggled to break down a disciplined Lesotho defense. The visitors resorted to long balls and speculative efforts, with little to show for their dominance in possession. Lesotho, for their part, looked to frustrate and counter, and their game plan worked to perfection through the opening 45 minutes.
As the halftime whistle blew, the Super Eagles were left ruing missed chances and a lack of creativity. The closest they came was from a Moses Simon corner that Arokodare glanced wide, while Osimhen’s aerial presence forced Lesotho goalkeeper Sekhoane Moerane into action on a couple of occasions. Still, the deadlock remained, and nerves began to fray among the Nigerian faithful watching on the FIFA+ streaming platform.
But football, as ever, is a game of moments—and the second half delivered them in spades. The breakthrough came in the 55th minute when Lesotho wing-back Thabang Malane, under pressure from Simon, inadvertently blocked a shot with his arm inside the penalty area. The referee pointed to the spot, and up stepped captain William Troost-Ekong. With the weight of a nation on his shoulders, Troost-Ekong drilled a clinical penalty into the bottom right corner, sending Moerane the wrong way and notching his eighth international goal. "The captain steps up to dispatch a huge goal for his country. Sekhoane guessed correctly down to his left but Troost-Ekong drilled an unerring kick straight into the corner," reported ESPN.
That goal should have settled Nigerian nerves, but instead, it sparked a frenetic period of end-to-end action. Osimhen, the Super Eagles’ talismanic striker, twice came agonizingly close to doubling the lead. First, he lifted a deft finish over Moerane only to see the ball bounce off the post, and moments later, his shot was brilliantly tipped onto the upright by the Lesotho keeper. Moses Simon’s follow-up was cleared off the line in a wild goalmouth scramble, leaving fans on the edge of their seats.
Lesotho, sensing an opportunity, nearly caught Nigeria out on the break, but the visitors’ defense—anchored by Troost-Ekong and Calvin Bassey—held firm. As the clock ticked down, Chelle made a bold move, introducing Sevilla forward Akor Adams for his international debut. It proved to be a masterstroke. In the 80th minute, Osimhen unselfishly squared the ball to Adams, who coolly slotted home to make it 2-0. "Debut goal from the substitute Akor Adams!!! What a moment for the Sevilla man. Lesotho, pushing for an equaliser on the break leave themselves exposed. Osimhen squares unselfishly and Adams fires a fine finish into the bottom corner," read the live commentary.
Yet, just when it seemed Nigeria would coast to victory, the match took another dramatic turn. In the 82nd minute, a lapse in concentration from goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali—who failed to deal with a left-wing corner—allowed Hlompho Kalake to pounce. The Lesotho substitute slammed the ball into the roof of the net, setting up a tense finale. "Now then, how are your nerves?! Nigeria have collapsed late on in games before in this group. Surely not again. Nwabali makes a mess of a left-wing corner and substitutes Hlompho Kalake meets the ball at the top of the bounce to slam into the roof of the net," noted the match report.
With just minutes remaining, Lesotho threw everything forward. In the fifth minute of stoppage time, a mix-up between Nwabali and Wilfred Ndidi nearly gifted Fusi Matalabe an equalizer, but his shot trickled agonizingly wide of the post. The final whistle brought relief for Nigeria and heartbreak for Lesotho, whose hopes of qualifying for the World Cup ended with this defeat.
The win keeps Nigeria third in Group C, three points behind leaders Benin and one behind South Africa, who were held to a goalless draw by Zimbabwe. It’s a result that sets up an electrifying conclusion to the qualifiers. If the Super Eagles can beat Benin by two goals in their final match, and South Africa fails to defeat Rwanda, Nigeria will leapfrog both rivals to clinch a spot at the 2026 World Cup. Anything less, and their fate will be out of their hands.
Looking back, this was the fifth meeting between Lesotho and Nigeria. The Super Eagles have now won three of those encounters, with one draw and no wins for Lesotho. The biggest win in the series remains Nigeria’s 4-2 triumph in November 2019. On this occasion, however, it was grit, determination, and a touch of fortune that carried the day for Chelle’s side.
There were notable absences for Nigeria, with Nottingham Forest’s Ola Aina missing through injury and key players like Bright Osayi-Samuel and Cyriel Dessers also sidelined. Felix Agu was ruled out with an ankle issue, forcing Chelle to shuffle his lineup and bring in Porto’s Zaidu Sanusi and Crystal Palace loanee Christantus Uche. The Super Eagles’ squad depth was tested, but the likes of Troost-Ekong, Ndidi, and Osimhen rose to the challenge. Still, Chelle will be wary of suspension risks ahead of the Benin clash, as several players—Semi Ajayi, Bassey, Ndidi, Iwobi, Lookman, and Nwabali—are one yellow card away from missing the decider.
Lesotho, for their part, can take pride in a spirited performance. Despite being out of contention, they pushed Nigeria to the brink and nearly snatched a point at the death. The Crocodiles’ resilience and tactical discipline made life difficult for their more illustrious opponents, and Kalake’s late goal was a fitting reward for their efforts.
For Nigerian fans, the focus now shifts to the final group match against Benin. The permutations are clear, but the path remains treacherous. With World Cup qualification on the line and the pressure mounting, the Super Eagles must summon their best when it matters most. The drama is far from over—one more twist could yet shape their destiny.
As the dust settles on a pulsating night in Polokwane, Nigeria’s World Cup hopes are still alive, but only just. The Super Eagles live to fight another day, with everything to play for in the final round of qualifiers. Football, as always, keeps us guessing.
