Match Overview: Nigeria Edges Lesotho in Tense Qualifier
The Nigeria Super Eagles secured a critical 2-1 victory against Lesotho's Likuena in a 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifier match held on Friday, October 10, 2025. The encounter took place at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, South Africa, serving as Lesotho's home ground due to stadium standards. This win was pivotal for Nigeria's hopes in the ongoing qualification campaign.
Key Moments and Goal Scorers
The match saw a goalless first half, with both teams struggling to break the deadlock. The Super Eagles, under coach Éric Chelle, intensified their efforts in the second period. Nigeria's captain, William Troost-Ekong, opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 55th minute after a handball incident. Substitute Akor Adams then doubled Nigeria's lead in the 80th minute with a clinical finish. However, Lesotho quickly responded, with Hlompho Kalake finding the net in the 83rd minute, setting up a tense finish. Despite late pressure from Lesotho, Nigeria held on to claim the crucial three points.
Qualification Implications and Previous Encounter
This match was a must-win for Nigeria, who entered the fixture third in Group C of the CAF qualifiers, trailing joint leaders Benin Republic and South Africa. The victory keeps the Super Eagles' World Cup qualification dreams alive, though their fate remains influenced by other results in the group. The teams had previously met in the reverse fixture on November 16, 2023, at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, Nigeria, which ended in a 1-1 draw. In that match, Motlomelo Mkhwanazi scored for Lesotho, while Semi Ajayi equalized for Nigeria.
Coaches' Perspectives
Lesotho's head coach, Leslie Notši, expressed confidence ahead of the match, stating his team would 'respect them without fear' and aimed to build on their previous draw against Nigeria. Nigeria's coach, Éric Chelle, who was appointed in January 2025 with the mandate to guide the Super Eagles to the FIFA World Cup 26™, emphasized the importance of securing a win to reignite their campaign. The Super Eagles' squad for this crucial fixture included key players such as Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, and Moses Simon.
Conclusion
The 2-1 triumph over Lesotho marks a significant step for Nigeria in their quest for a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The hard-fought victory underscores the competitive nature of the CAF qualifiers and highlights the Super Eagles' determination to advance. The team will now look to build on this result in their remaining fixtures to secure their qualification.
5 Comments
Kyle Broflovski
A penalty and a late goal. We need more convincing wins, not just scraped results.
Stan Marsh
The Super Eagles showed resilience to fight for the victory, which is a positive takeaway. Yet, relying on a penalty and a late winner suggests the team still struggles with creating consistent attacking threats.
Eric Cartman
This victory keeps our World Cup dreams afloat, and that's fantastic for the fans. But honestly, the first half was very flat, and the team looked disjointed for long stretches.
Muchacha
Barely beating Lesotho 2-1 is not World Cup form. Still worried.
Habibi
Great second-half effort! Troost-Ekong and Adams came through.