The Super Eagles started their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in a disappointing manner, recording a 1-1 with Lesotho at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium.
Underwhelming Performance:
Despite holding the 40th position in the world rankings, Nigeria struggled to secure a victory against the 153rd-ranked Lesotho.
The lackluster performance left the home team with a single point in front of a modest crowd.
Game Highlights:
Lesotho’s Motlomelo Mkwanazi stunned the Super Eagles with a lead from a corner, answered by West Brom centre-back Semi Ajayi’s header from Kelechi Iheanacho’s corner, leveling the score 11 minutes later.
Post-Match Reflections:
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Coach Peseiro expressed disappointment, citing the team’s 76% ball possession against Lesotho’s 24%. Despite dominating, Nigeria couldn’t overcome the resilient visitors, settling for a draw.
“We had 76 per cent of the ball possession to their 24 per cent. We played against a team that had just two shots while we were unlucky in the attack.
“We are sad about the result,” Peseiro said during the post-match presser.
Group Dynamics:
With this unexpected draw, Nigeria falls behind Lesotho in Group C, giving South Africa and Benin Republic an advantage as they await their turn in the qualifying series. Rwanda and Zimbabwe, following a goalless draw, hold the third and fourth positions.
Next Challenge:
The Super Eagles will now look ahead to their upcoming clash against Zimbabwe at their adopted ground in Rwanda on Sunday, aiming to regain momentum in the pursuit of World Cup qualification.
