Nigeria Survives Scare in Lesotho to Keep World Cup Dreams Flickering

POLOKWANE, South Africa — The Super Eagles flew perilously close to disaster Friday afternoon, needing two second-half goals to escape the Peter Mokaba Stadium with a 2-1 victory over Lesotho that did little to ease the mounting pressure on a team teetering on the edge of World Cup qualification failure.

William Troost-Ekong's 55th-minute penalty and Akor Adams's 80th-minute strike appeared to have secured three precious points for Nigeria, only for Lesotho to strike back immediately and set up a frantic finale that had the visitors clinging desperately to a lead that, by rights, should have been far more comfortable.

The win moves Nigeria to 14 points in Group C, but with Benin and South Africa both sitting on 14 points ahead of them in the standings, the three-time African champions find themselves in the unthinkable position of potentially missing out on the 2026 World Cup. Only group winners guarantee qualification, while the four best runners-up across the nine African groups advance to a playoff round. Nigeria currently occupies third place on goal difference.

A Pattern of Struggle

This was meant to be straightforward. Lesotho arrived in South Africa — the match was played at a neutral venue — with just nine points from eight matches and fresh off consecutive defeats to South Africa and Benin by a combined score of 7-0. Nigeria, despite their underwhelming campaign, possessed superior talent and experience.

Yet for 55 minutes, the Super Eagles flailed against organized resistance, unable to break down a Lesotho side that had conceded 11 goals in their previous three outings. The pattern has become distressingly familiar: Nigeria controlling possession without conviction, creating chances without clinical finishing, and carrying an air of fragility that invites opponents to believe.

The breakthrough finally arrived via the penalty spot. Troost-Ekong, the Watford defender who has been one of Nigeria's few consistent performers during this troubled qualifying campaign, stepped up to convert with authority. The goal should have settled nerves. Instead, it merely delayed the anxiety.

Adams Provides Brief Relief

For 25 minutes, Nigeria protected their slender advantage without expanding it, wasting opportunities to put the match beyond doubt. Then Adams, brought on as a substitute, appeared to have delivered the knockout blow with 10 minutes remaining. His finish gave Nigeria breathing room and seemed to confirm three points that would keep them mathematically alive in the qualification race.

But Lesotho refused to accept defeat quietly. Just three minutes after Adams's goal, the Mountain Kingdom struck back through an unidentified scorer, instantly transforming what should have been a comfortable conclusion into a desperate scramble for survival. Nigeria spent the final minutes absorbing pressure rather than dictating terms, a microcosm of their entire qualifying campaign.

The Bigger Picture

The context makes Friday's narrow escape all the more troubling. Nigeria entered this match having drawn 1-1 with South Africa and defeated Rwanda 1-0 in September — results that suggested modest progress but revealed persistent problems. The Super Eagles have managed just one victory in their last five qualifiers, a streak of mediocrity that has left them vulnerable with precious few matches remaining.

Meanwhile, Group C leaders Benin and South Africa have navigated their own challenges with greater consistency. Rwanda, sitting on 11 points, and even Lesotho remain mathematically alive, though their paths to qualification have narrowed considerably. Zimbabwe, eliminated on four points, serves as a cautionary tale of what awaits teams that cannot capitalize on opportunities.

What's at Stake

Nigeria now faces a precarious situation heading into the final matchdays. With Egypt already qualified from Group A and Morocco securing their spot from Group E, the scramble for the remaining seven guaranteed places and four playoff positions has intensified. The Super Eagles cannot afford another stumble.

For Lesotho, Friday's performance offered dignity if not points. They pushed one of African football's traditional powers to the brink and created genuine belief that an upset was possible. That they came up short by a single goal will hurt, but they demonstrated that Nigeria's vulnerabilities are real and exploitable.

The Super Eagles escaped Polokwane with three points, but the margin between salvation and catastrophe grows thinner with each unconvincing performance. Time is running out to transform potential into results, and Friday's scare in South Africa served as another reminder that nothing can be taken for granted in the unforgiving arithmetic of World Cup qualification.