All eyes are on the New Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, South Africa, as the Super Eagles of Nigeria prepare to battle the Crocodiles of Lesotho in what is being described as a do-or-die encounter in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
The match, scheduled for Friday, October 10, at 6:00 p.m. local time (5:00 p.m. Nigeria time), could determine whether Nigeria’s World Cup hopes remain alive or fade away.
The Super Eagles, who were on the verge of missing out on back-to-back World Cup tournaments after a 1-1 draw with South Africa’s Bafana Bafana on September 1, have been handed a dramatic lifeline.
A recent ruling that docked points from South Africa for fielding an ineligible player has reshaped the Group C standings, bringing Nigeria back into contention.
The decision now leaves the Super Eagles just three points adrift of group leaders Benin national football team and South Africa, with two games left to play.
Nigeria’s qualification hopes now rest on securing maximum points in their remaining matches, beginning with tonight’s clash against Lesotho.
Anything short of a victory could effectively end their campaign, while they will also be hoping South Africa drop points in their remaining fixtures against Zimbabwe national football team and Rwanda national football team.
The stakes are high, as several teams remain mathematically capable of topping the group, making every goal and every point crucial in this stage of the qualifiers.
Currently, Benin sit atop the group with 14 points and a +4 goal difference, followed closely by South Africa, who also have 14 points but a +2 goal difference.
Nigeria are third with 11 points and a +2 goal difference, while Rwanda trail closely with 11 points and a neutral goal difference.
Lesotho, despite being lower in the table, have proven to be a tough opponent, holding Nigeria to a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on November 16, 2023.
Since 2019, the two sides have met three times: Nigeria have won twice and one match ended in a draw.
The Super Eagles’ qualifying campaign has been inconsistent, with two wins, five draws and one loss so far, while Lesotho have recorded two wins, three draws and three defeats.
As the pressure mounts, head coach Éric Chelle has called for total focus and intensity from his players.
Speaking during a pre-match press conference in Polokwane on Thursday, he emphasised the importance of beginning the game with aggression, urgency, and full concentration.
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“We need to start well — start with intensity and be aggressive,” Chelle said. “What we want is to achieve victory. We are 100 per cent focused on this game against Lesotho, who are a good team with a good coach.”
“Everybody can’t go to the World Cup. In football, anything can happen — could be because of the weather, because of the referee, because of injury.”
“So we need to stay focused on what we want from this game — to have this victory. We need to start well with lots of intensity and aggression to score and win this game against a good Lesotho side.”
Captain William Troost‑Ekong also echoed his coach’s sentiments, urging his teammates to approach the game with full determination and respect for their opponents.
“We are approaching this the same way we approached South Africa. It’s important for us to go for the three points.”
“We have to show Lesotho respect because they picked up a point against us. We’ve had two good training sessions and we look forward to the game tomorrow.”
With qualification hopes on the line, Nigeria’s stars are expected to rise to the occasion and deliver a performance worthy of their status. Fans across the continent will be glued to their screens as the action unfolds, with live coverage available on SuperSport (via DStv), SportyBet TV and AfroSport.
For Nigeria, tonight’s fixture isn’t just another qualifier, it’s their last chance to keep the dream of playing at the 2026 FIFA World Cup alive.