Nigeria’s hopes of reaching next year’s World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico are still hanging by a thread, but Eric Chelle’s men have been handed a glimmer of hope with just two matches left to play.
Their 1-1 draw with South Africa last month left the three-time African champions six points adrift of Hugo Broos’s side, seemingly putting an end to their dream of a seventh World Cup appearance.
However, a recent twist has revived faint hopes for the Super Eagles. South Africa’s 2-0 victory over Lesotho in March was later overturned to a 3-0 defeat after it was discovered that Mokoena was ineligible to play. That decision handed Nigeria a small but significant lifeline heading into the final two rounds of qualifying.
The path to qualification is still steep. Nigeria must win both of their remaining games—against Lesotho and Benin—and hope South Africa falters in their upcoming fixtures against Zimbabwe and Rwanda. Despite the odds, Chelle’s side are in a better position than they were just a few weeks ago.
After eight matches, the Super Eagles have managed only two wins, both coming against Rwanda. They currently sit third in Group C, level on points with Benin but behind on goal difference. With five nations still mathematically capable of finishing top, Nigeria’s next game against Lesotho in Polokwane is a must-win to keep their World Cup hopes alive.
The option of qualifying as one of the best second-placed teams also looks unlikely for now. Before the latest round, Gabon, Madagascar, DR Congo, and Burkina Faso occupied those valuable spots with 15 points or more, while Cameroon, Namibia, and Uganda also sit ahead of South Africa, who have 14.
As for Lesotho, they face Nigeria in Polokwane with slim hopes of securing a historic first-ever World Cup appearance. Mathematically, it’s still possible, but it would require an extraordinary run of results. Leslie Notsi’s team currently have nine points from eight games—helped by the disciplinary ruling that turned their loss to South Africa into a 3-0 win.
Still, their task remains monumental. They trail Benin and South Africa by five points and are two points behind both Nigeria and Rwanda. To pull off a miracle and top the group after October’s international break, Lesotho would need to win both remaining matches and hope for several upsets elsewhere.
Adding to their challenge, Lesotho have technically won only one of their previous eight matches—the awarded victory over South Africa—and they play their “home” games in South Africa, limiting their advantage. Yet, despite the odds, the Crocodiles will step onto the pitch determined to make life difficult for Nigeria, hoping to pull off one of the bigge
INJURIES & SUSPENSIONS
Lesotho have seen four different players find the back of the net in the qualifiers — Motlomelo Mkwanazi, Lehlohonolo Fothoane, Rethabile Rasethuntsa, and Jane Thabantso. This spread of scorers underlines both the Crocodiles’ team effort and their lack of a consistent match-winner, creating an open challenge for someone to step up and lead the attack when it matters most.
Among them, Mkwanazi has been particularly influential. He scored in the 1-1 draw against Nigeria in November 2023 and also provided an assist in the qualifiers, giving him two direct goal contributions so far. His versatility and determination will again be vital as Lesotho aim to cause an upset against one of Africa’s football giants.
Meanwhile, striker Sera Motebang is still searching for his first goal of the campaign. He will be eager to break his scoring drought against the Super Eagles and help keep Lesotho’s slim qualification hopes alive. At the other end, goalkeeper Sekhoane Moerane will need to be at his absolute best, as he faces one of the continent’s most dangerous attacking lineups. A strong performance from him could make all the difference in keeping Lesotho’s dream alive.
For Nigeria, the returning Victor Osimhen is expected to play a leading role. The Galatasaray forward, who already has three goals in the qualifiers, will be the focal point of the attack. Ademola Lookman, who has had a quiet start to the season at Atalanta after being linked with a move away, is also set to start, alongside the lively Moses Simon.
In midfield, Alex Iwobi remains a key figure despite dividing fan opinion with his national team performances. The Fulham playmaker’s creativity and control will be vital for Nigeria’s buildup play in Polokwane. However, the Super Eagles will be without full-back Ola Aina, who is sidelined with a long-term hamstring injury. In his absence, Zaidu Sanusi and Christantus Uche have been drafted into Eric Chelle’s squad, replacing Bright Osayi-Samuel and Cyriel Dessers.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Lesotho possible starting lineup:
Moerane; Malane, Mkwanazi, Makhele, Matlabe; Rapuleng, Matsau; Mokachane, Toloane, Thabantso; Sera
Nigeria possible starting lineup:
Nwabali; Fredrick, Troost-Ekong, Bassey, Onyemaechi; Onyeka, Ndidi, Iwobi; Lookman; Simon, Osimhen
EXPERT PREDICTIONS
Lesotho 0-1 Nigeria