Nigeria’s Super Eagles laboured to a 2-1 win over Lesotho in their 2026 World Cup Qualifier match played on Friday evening, www.aclsports.com reports.
Goals from skipper William Troost-Ekong and Akor Adams handed Nigeria a two-goal lead before Hlompho Kalake pulled one back to set up a grandstand finish, but the Super Eagles held on to secure an important win at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, South Africa.
Star forward Victor Osimhen, who was injured in last month’s fixture against Rwanda in Uyo, returned to the starting line-up having missed the trip to South Africa. Tolu Arokodare also started alongside the Gala man, with Benjamin Fredrick starting in the right-back position, filling in for the injured Ola Aina.
Nigeria started the game with great intent early on, as Ademola Lookman and Alex Iwobi found themselves in decent positions to work the goalkeeper, but the duo failed to capitalize on this opportunity.
Moments later, Iwobi tried his luck from distance, but it was straight into the waiting arms of the Lesotho goalkeeper. Arokodare then headed over on the stroke of halftime as the half ended without a goal.
The Super Eagles returned from the break with some fire, and ten minutes later, they got the opening goal. Skipper William Troost-Ekong dispatched a penalty after the Lesotho defender handled the ball in the area. From that moment on, Nigeria continued to push for more goals.
Debutant Akor Adams, who replaced Tolu Arokodare just after the hour mark, dribbled past his marker to finish into the bottom corner to double Nigeria’s lead with ten minutes to go. However, Lesotho pulled one back through Hlompho Kalake three minutes later, but the Super Eagles got through some nervy moments in the dying embers of the game and nicked an important win.
In the other group C games, Benin defeated Rwanda 1-0 in Kigali, while South Africa drew 0-0 with ten-man Zimbabwe at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.
Nigeria will now face Benin Republic in their final match at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Tuesday, while South Africa will face Rwanda as the sole automatic ticket of the group goes to the wire.
