2026 World Cup: Still a Mountain for the Super Eagles Despite Narrow Lesotho Win

 



The Super Eagles of Nigeria last night narrowly edged the Crocodiles of Lesotho 2-1 to boost their chances of qualification for the 2026 World Cup, but it might be an effort coming too late.

The Super Eagles were characteristically  lacklustre for the first half of the game as they failed to break down the well honed defensive approach of the home side, using the Moses Madhiba Stadium in Polokwane, South Africa.

It was captain Williams Troost Ekong who broke the deadlock in the 55th minute after the referee blew for a handball in the Lesotho penalty area. Adams Akor, substituted on few minutes earlier, eased the pressure on the visitors with the second in the 81st minute but the two goal lead lasted just few seconds as Lesotho got one back as goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali failed to deal with a corner kick. He almost cost the team the three points with another hash of a cross  at the death but the Lesotho player  shot wide with a yawning empty net.

Happy to get the points but with calculators out, that one goal conceded could prove decisive... CAF had written to the federations about Eritrea's withdrawal that could affect the final group standings. Nigeria has the opporutnity to gain from it but still needs enough goals and points to at least book a play off spot in case of missing out automatic qualification.

The last Group C matches is played on Tuesday with Nigeria taking on Benin, sitting pretty top and need just a point to qualify for their first ever world cup with other results going their way. Nigeria need to win with at least two goals and hope Rwanda hold South Africa to a draw.

Nigeria could have avoided this with proper planning and the Nigeria Football Federation would receive most of the blame for its poor management of the qualifiers... It dallied in the hiring of a substantive coach before the qualifiers and saw Jose Peseiro, Finidi George and later Eric Chelle handle the team. An in fairness, Chelle was the only coach to win in the qualifiers. He had won three so far.


For the encounter on Tuesday, Chelle should ensure the right team selection and Troost Ekong could no longer be trusted to last 90 minutes. A younger and energetic player is needed and a new captain appointed for the team. Calvin Bassey could do that. Gernot Rohr would like to prove himself having been unceremoniuosly sacked on the even of 2019 AFCON.

Uyo awaits the encounter and as a patriotic Nigerian, I wish the Super Eagles the best at the Nest of Champions.  

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