The Super Eagles revived their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification after beating Lesotho 2-1 at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, on Friday in a match that could prove decisive for Nigeria’s campaign.
Troost-Ekong gave the Super Eagles the perfect start by converting a penalty following a handball in the Lesotho box, sending the home fans into jubilation.
Akor Adams minutes later doubled the advantage with a clinical finish, seemingly putting Nigeria in control.
Lesotho responded with a goal from Kalake, but the Super Eagles held firm to secure the crucial three points.
However, the Republic of Benin secured a 1-0 win over Rwanda in their own match, meaning Nigeria remains behind on points and goal difference in Group C. With only one game remaining in the group, the Eagles’ fate is not entirely in their hands.
With Nigeria at 14 points and Benin now leading the group, the Eagles still have numerous options for automatic qualification:
Nigeria trails Benin (+5) and South Africa (+3), so scoring more goals and keeping a clean sheet could be decisive if teams finish level on points.
A great performance in the last round could help Nigeria overcome the leads and claim first place.
Lesotho’s defeat is a crushing blow, basically destroying their chances of qualifying from the group.
With nine points from five matches, they now require an almost impossible set of outcomes to be in contention.
