Nigeria edged closer to a 2026 World Cup spot after defeating Lesotho 2–1 in a crucial Group C qualifier on Thursday, keeping their qualification hopes alive ahead of the final round of matches.
The game began slowly for the Super Eagles, who found it difficult to break down a compact Lesotho defence. Despite fielding attacking talents like Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, and Alex Iwobi, Nigeria’s first-half efforts yielded no goals.
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Ten minutes into the second half, captain William Troost-Ekong opened the scoring from the penalty spot after a Lesotho defender handled the ball in the box. Midfielder Wilfred Ndidi later appealed for another penalty, but the referee waved play on.
Debutant Akor Adams made an instant impact, doubling Nigeria’s lead with a fine finish after outmuscling his marker to slot past the goalkeeper.
Lesotho pulled one back late in the game through Hlompho Kalake, who punished a defensive error from goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, but the Super Eagles held firm to claim all three points.
The victory eliminates Lesotho from contention while keeping Nigeria’s qualification hopes alive. With one match remaining, the Super Eagles sit three points behind group leaders Benin and ahead of South Africa, setting the stage for a decisive final showdown in Group C.
How the Table looks like now:
