...Super Eagles Survive Late Scare to Keep Qualification Hopes Alive
By Abimbola Erinle
The air was tense in South Africa, Lesotho’s adopted home ground, as Nigeria’s Super Eagles stepped onto the pitch knowing only victory would keep their World Cup dream alive. With just two games left in the CAF qualifying campaign, the stakes could not have been higher.
Nigeria had gathered 11 points from eight matches after a shaky start, sitting third behind South Africa and the Republic of Benin.
The equation was simple: win, or risk watching the World Cup from home. A recent CAF decision docking South Africa three points and three goals for fielding an ineligible player gave Nigeria a glimmer of hope, but they still needed to do their part.
CAF Player of the Year for 2023 and Galatasaray forward Victor Osimhen returned to the lineup after missing the last match through injury. Coach Eric Chelle opted for an attacking setup, pairing Osimhen with Wolves striker Tolu Arokodare. The intent was clear from the first whistle as Nigeria went all out to dominate.
And attack they did. Nigeria controlled possession, pressed high, and forced Lesotho’s Crocodiles deep into their own half. Arokodare came close early on, rising to meet an Ademola Lookman cross that went just wide.
At the back, captain William Troost-Ekong and Calvin Bassey stayed composed, ensuring goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali had little to worry about in the first half.
Lookman was lively, gliding past defenders with ease, though his tendency to hold onto the ball too long slowed Nigeria’s tempo at times. Alex Iwobi, playing deeper in midfield, provided balance but offered little threat going forward. Osimhen twice went close from corners, but the half ended goalless despite Nigeria’s dominance.
After the restart, the Eagles came out with more intent. Ten minutes in, a Moses Simon shot struck a Lesotho hand, and the referee pointed straight to the spot. Troost-Ekong made no mistake, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way to give Nigeria the lead.
That goal lifted the team’s confidence. Nigeria pressed harder and were soon rewarded again when Osimhen slipped a pass to Akor Adams, who fooled his marker with a quick step-over before driving a low shot into the bottom corner. With seven minutes left, it looked like a routine win.
But football has a way of testing nerves. Lesotho pulled one back from a scrappy corner as Hlompho Kalake poked the ball past Nwabali, who again looked unsure under pressure. Moments later, he nearly gifted an equalizer, fumbling a long ball before the rebound rolled inches wide. Nigerian hearts were in their throats until the final whistle.
Elsewhere, South Africa were held to a goalless draw by Zimbabwe, while Benin snatched a late winner in Rwanda. The results leave Nigeria just one point behind South Africa, setting up a tense finale to the qualifying campaign.
For the Super Eagles, the mission is far from over. On Tuesday, they face former coach Gernot Rohr and his Benin side in a match that could define their road to the World Cup.
