Nigeria kept their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification hopes alive with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Lesotho on Friday evening. Goals from captain William Troost-Ekong and striker Akor Adams were enough to seal all three points for the Super Eagles, who remain in the hunt for a place at the tournament.
Lesotho proved to be stubborn opponents, pushing Nigeria until the final whistle in a tense encounter that underscored the pressure surrounding the final stages of the qualifiers.
Speaking after the match, Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong praised Lesotho’s effort while reflecting on the challenges his team has faced.
“Lesotho played a great game. It was not easy to come here and we knew that from the start,” Ekong said. “I can understand their frustration and disappointment because they put up a good fight. These kinds of games are never easy. The pressure on us has been there since March, maybe even from the start of the qualifiers. We just wanted to focus on ourselves.”
Nigeria now turns its focus to the final group game a must-win clash against Benin Republic in Uyo. For the Super Eagles to qualify, they will also need South Africa to draw with Rwanda in Johannesburg.
With one last hurdle to overcome, the stage is set for a dramatic conclusion to the World Cup qualifying campaign.