Nigeria’s Super Eagles on Thursday kept their hopes of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup alive with a 2–1 victory over Lesotho in their Group C qualifier. The match was played on the African continent, with both sides seeking crucial points toward qualification for the North American tournament.
Head coach Eric Chelle fielded a strong starting lineup that featured the return of Galatasaray forward Victor Osimhen and Al-Kholood defender William Troost-Ekong, both key figures for the national team.
Nigeria started brightly, with Moses Simon setting the early tone in the sixth minute, cutting in from the right flank but finding Lesotho’s defence too organised to break down. Despite dominating possession, the Eagles struggled with sloppy passes as the Crocodiles’ compact back line limited attacking opportunities.
Osimhen came close to opening the scoring in the 38th minute after outpacing his marker to connect with a cross from the right, but his powerful strike was kept out by Lesotho goalkeeper Sekhoane Moerane. The first half ended goalless despite Nigeria’s sustained pressure.
The breakthrough came eight minutes into the second half when Motlomelo Mkwanazi was penalised for a handball inside the box after blocking a shot from Moses Simon. Captain William Troost-Ekong converted the resulting penalty, calmly placing the ball into the bottom right corner to put Nigeria ahead.
Nigeria doubled their lead in the 80th minute following a swift attacking move. Osimhen set up Akor Adams, who drilled home a composed finish past Sekhoane to make it 2–0.
Lesotho, however, capitalised on a defensive lapse from Nigeria late in the game. A poorly cleared corner kick fell to Hlompho Kalake, who fired a looping shot over goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali to reduce the deficit.
Despite the late scare, the Super Eagles held firm to secure all three points, boosting their qualification chances as they continue their campaign toward the 2026 World Cup, to be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.