The Super Eagles of Nigeria edged closer to keeping their 2026 FIFA World Cup dream alive with a gritty 2-1 win over Lesotho on Friday in Polokwane, South Africa.
Debutant Akor Adams and captain William Troost-Ekong were the heroes of the night, finding the back of the net to give Nigeria a much-needed three points in their Group C campaign.
Troost-Ekong opened the scoring in the 55th minute, confidently converting from the penalty spot after a Lesotho defender was penalized for a handball inside the box. The goal sent Nigerian fans into celebration as the Super Eagles took control of the match.
In the 80th minute, Akor Adams marked his debut in style, firing home a clinical finish to double Nigeria’s lead. However, Lesotho refused to back down and pulled one back just three minutes later through Kalake, setting up a tense finale. Despite the late scare, the Super Eagles held their nerve to secure victory.
The win takes Nigeria to 14 points, keeping them in third place in Group C with just one match remaining. However, qualification for the World Cup is still out of their hands.
In other Group C fixtures, Benin Republic claimed a vital 1-0 away win against Rwanda to move to the top of the table with 17 points, while South Africa were held to a goalless draw on home turf by 10-man Zimbabwe in Durban, leaving them second on 15 points.
The Super Eagles now face a decisive final-day clash against Benin Republic next Tuesday. To qualify, Nigeria will need a big win—and hope South Africa fail to secure victory against Rwanda.
