Nigeria kept their hopes of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup alive with a narrow 2-1 win over Lesotho at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Friday, in a tense encounter that went down to the wire.
Despite controlling possession for most of the match, the Super Eagles struggled to break down a compact Lesotho defence that operated with five at the back, frustrating Nigeria’s attacking trio in the opening stages.
Victor Osimhen came close to putting Nigeria ahead in the 38th minute after beating his marker to meet a cross from the right flank, but his powerful strike was well saved by Lesotho goalkeeper Neo Sekhoane. The Crocodiles’ defence remained disciplined, keeping the game goalless at halftime despite sustained pressure from the Super Eagles.
Nigeria’s dominance eventually paid off eight minutes after the restart when defender Motlomelo Mkwanazi was penalized for handling the ball inside the box after blocking a shot from Moses Simon. Team captain William Troost-Ekong stepped up and calmly slotted the penalty into the bottom right corner to give Nigeria the breakthrough.
In the 80th minute, substitute Akor Adams doubled the lead after a fine assist from Osimhen. The Napoli striker slipped a clever pass to Adams on the right side of the penalty area, and the Montpellier forward fired a low shot past Sekhoane to make it 2-0.
Lesotho, however, found a late lifeline following a defensive lapse from Nigeria. A corner kick fell kindly to Hlompho Kalake, who struck a looping effort over Stanley Nwabali to reduce the deficit and set up a nervous finish.
Nigeria held firm to secure all three points, a vital result in their quest to reach the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The win, combined with South Africa’s goalless draw against Zimbabwe, brings the Super Eagles within one point of Bafana Bafana. However, Benin Republic’s slim victory over Rwanda means they remain in top spot in Group C.
With the qualification race heating up, Nigeria will now turn their attention to their next decisive fixture against Benin Republic, knowing that victory will be key if they are to book their ticket to the World Cup by
any chance.
