11th October 2025
Akor Adams’ debut goal rescued Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup hopes as the Super Eagles edged Lesotho 2-1 in their penultimate qualifier at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Friday, despite goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali’s costly errors threatening to derail their campaign.
Second-half strikes from captain William Troost-Ekong and debutant Adams lifted Eric Chelle’s side to 14 points in Group C, closing the gap on second-placed South Africa to just one point after Bafana Bafana were held to a 0-0 draw by Zimbabwe in Durban.
However, Benin Republic’s 1-0 victory over Rwanda in Kigali, courtesy of Aiyegun Tosin’s 80th-minute strike, kept the Cheetahs two points clear at the top with 17 points, leaving Nigeria’s fate not entirely in their hands heading into Tuesday’s final-day showdown in Uyo.
The Super Eagles were expected to make short work of their hosts but struggled to assert themselves in the first half, lacking creativity and urgency despite dominating possession.
Lesotho goalkeeper Sekhoane Moerane made three routine saves in the opening 45 minutes, whilst another three Nigerian efforts flew off target as the West Africans failed to capitalise on their superiority.
Tolu Arokodare saw his header rise above the crossbar in the 12th minute, before the Crocodiles’ goalkeeper punched the ball away just as Arokodare was set to head home from Ademola Lookman’s cross in the 33rd minute. Three minutes later, Victor Osimhen saw his header saved, and in added time of the first half, Arokodare headed a pullout wide of goal.
Nigeria were handed a lifeline nine minutes into the second half when Motlomelo Mkwanazi handled the ball inside his own area after Simon Moses let fly. Troost-Ekong stepped up to convert from 12 yards, giving the Super Eagles the lead they desperately needed.
The visitors continued to press for a second goal, with Alex Iwobi going close twice in the 57th and 59th minutes, before Osimhen rattled the upright with a delicate chip in the 62nd minute.
Adams, who had entered the fray on 62 minutes for his international debut, made an immediate impact 18 minutes after his introduction. Osimhen, whose deflected shot had struck the woodwork again in the 79th minute, finally found the breakthrough formula when he passed to the substitute in space.
Adams turned his marker before firing a left-footed effort past Moerane to double Nigeria’s advantage and seemingly seal the three points with 10 minutes remaining.
However, Nwabali’s poor clearance from a corner kick three minutes later gifted Hlompho Kalake a route back into the contest, with the Lesotho forward capitalising on the error to reduce the deficit and set up a nervy finish.
The goalkeeper’s nightmare evening nearly worsened in the dying minutes when another handling error allowed a Lesotho attacker a clear sight of goal. The shot sailed narrowly wide, with a chasing Troost-Ekong unable to reach the ball to rescue the situation had it been on target.
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