The Super Eagles of Nigeria boosted their chances of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after securing a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Lesotho at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in South Africa on Friday evening.
Nigeria got off to a flying start when captain William Troost-Ekong converted a penalty on the 55th minute after a Lesotho defender was penalised for handball inside the box. The early goal sent Nigerian fans into celebration as the Eagles took control of the game.
Sevilla Forward, Akor Adams doubled Nigeria’s lead in the 80th minute with a composed finish, giving the team a comfortable lead. However, Lesotho’s Kalake pulled one back three minutes later in the game as the match ended 2-1 as Nigeria claim all three points.
Despite the win, Nigeria remains third in Group C behind Benin Republic, who also recorded a 1-0 victory versus Rwanda in their own fixture. The result means qualification is still not guaranteed, with only one group match left to play.
Nigeria now sits on 14 points, trailing Benin on seventeen points with South Africa in second who played out a goalless draw against Zimbabwe. To secure automatic qualification, the Super Eagles must defeat Benin Republic in the final group game with at least a two-goal margin.
For Lesotho, the defeat effectively ends their qualification hopes. With nine points from five games, they now face an uphill task to remain in contention for a World Cup spot.
The Super Eagles will now look to their final match as a make-or-break encounter in their quest to return to the World Cup stage in 2026.
