The Super Eagles of Nigeria earned a crucial 2-1 win over Lesotho on Friday evening in a hard-fought encounter that kept their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign on track. The Group C qualifier, held in Polokwane, South Africa, saw goals from captain William Troost-Ekong and debutant Akor Adams secure the three points, despite a late resurgence from Lesotho.
A promising start from Nigeria
From the opening whistle, Nigeria appeared eager to assert dominance. The attacking trio of Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, and Terem Moffi looked sharp, applying early pressure on the disciplined Lesotho defence. Osimhen came close with a shot that grazed the crossbar, while Lookman forced a smart save from Lesotho’s goalkeeper, Sekhoane Moerane.
Despite their early momentum, the Super Eagles found it difficult to convert possession into clear-cut chances. The Crocodiles, as Lesotho are known, maintained a compact shape and frustrated Nigeria’s attempts to break through in the final third. Midfielders Alex Iwobi and Raphael Onyedika attempted to control the tempo, but Lesotho’s defence remained resilient.
Penalty gives Nigeria the lead
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 54th minute after a handball by Lesotho defender Mkwanazi inside the penalty box. With regular penalty taker Osimhen opting out, captain William Troost-Ekong stepped up and calmly slotted home the spot-kick, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way to give Nigeria a 1-0 lead.
The goal brought some relief to Nigerian fans and allowed the team to play with more confidence. However, Lesotho remained competitive, creating occasional chances on the break and keeping the Super Eagles defence alert.
Akor Adams scores on debut
Head coach Jose Peseiro introduced fresh legs in the second half, including Akor Adams, who was handed his debut for the senior national team. The 80th minute proved to be pivotal, as a quick counter-attack led by Osimhen found Adams in space.
The Montpellier forward made no mistake, showing great composure to beat his marker and fire a low, clinical finish into the bottom corner. His debut goal appeared to have sealed the win for Nigeria, who were 2-0 up with just ten minutes remaining.
Late drama as Lesotho pulls one back
But Lesotho had other ideas. Just three minutes later, the hosts capitalised on a lapse in concentration. A corner kick in the 83rd minute led to a misjudged aerial challenge by goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, who failed to claim the ball. Lesotho’s Hlompho Kalake reacted quickest, looping the ball over Nwabali and into the net to make it 2-1.
The final minutes were tense, with Lesotho throwing everything forward in search of a dramatic equaliser. Nigeria’s defence looked shaky under pressure and nearly conceded again during stoppage time, but managed to clear their lines just in time.
Nigeria’s qualification hopes remain intact
With the win, Nigeria secured their first victory in the 2026 World Cup qualification campaign, keeping pace with other contenders in Group C. Though the performance was far from convincing, the result was vital, especially following a disappointing draw in their opening fixture.
The Super Eagles will need to improve defensively and show more cohesion in attack if they hope to secure qualification in the competitive African zone.
Looking ahead
Nigeria’s next qualifier will be closely watched as they seek to build momentum. The coaching staff will likely review the team’s defensive lapses and consider changes ahead of the upcoming fixtures.
For now, though, the Super Eagles can breathe a sigh of relief, having taken three hard-earned points on the road.
