The Super Eagles kept their 2026 FIFA World Cup dream alive with a 2-1 victory over Lesotho at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, on Friday.
Captain William Troost-Ekong opened the scoring from the penalty spot after a Lesotho defender handled the ball in the box, giving Nigeria an early lead and lifting the home crowd’s spirit.
Akor Adams extended the lead with a sharp finish to make it 2-0, but Lesotho’s Kalake pulled one back to set up a tense ending. Despite late pressure, the Eagles held on to claim all three points.
The win pushed Nigeria to 14 points, just behind Benin Republic, who also won their game to stay top of Group C on points and goal difference. With one match left, Nigeria’s qualification hopes remain alive but uncertain.
To qualify automatically, Nigeria must win their final game and hope Benin or South Africa drop points in their last fixtures. The team may also need to improve their goal difference, as Benin stand at +5 and South Africa at +3.
Football analysts say Nigeria’s final match will be crucial in deciding their fate.
A fan at the stadium, Tunde Adebayo, said, “It was a good win, but the job is not done yet. We need to score more in the next game and hope results go our way.”
For Lesotho, the loss almost ends their qualification dreams. With nine points from five games, they now need an unlikely combination of results to stay in the race.
The Super Eagles will now focus on their final group fixture, where a strong performance could secure their spot in the 2026 World Cup.
