Nigeria’s World Cup Bid Faces Make-or-Break Test Against Lesotho Tonight

Nigeria’s national football team, the Super Eagles, confronts a pivotal clash with Lesotho’s Crocodiles this evening in the battle for spots in the 2026 World Cup finals. A victory is vital to keep their qualification dreams afloat after a rocky road so far.

The match unfolds at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, South Africa, with the whistle set to blow at 6:00 p.m. local time—that’s 5:00 p.m. in Nigeria. Fans can catch the action live on channels like DStv’s SuperSport, SportyBet TV, and AfroSport.

This showdown carries massive weight in Group C of the African qualifiers. Nigeria sits third with 11 points and a goal difference of plus two, trailing leaders Benin and South Africa by three points each, both on 14 points. Rwanda matches Nigeria’s tally but lags on goals scored. With just two games left for the Super Eagles, they must claim maximum points from this and their final outing, while banking on stumbles from the frontrunners.

The plot thickened recently when South Africa lost points for using a player who shouldn’t have been on the pitch during an earlier draw against Nigeria. That 1-1 stalemate had left the Super Eagles on the brink of missing back-to-back World Cups, but the penalty breathed fresh life into their campaign.

Lesotho, nicknamed the Crocodiles, will look to spring a surprise once more. The sides have clashed three times since 2019, with Nigeria grabbing two victories and a shared spoils in their last meeting—a 1-1 tie in Uyo back in November 2023.

The Super Eagles have notched two wins, five draws, and one loss in the qualifiers to date. Lesotho, meanwhile, boasts two triumphs, three stalemates, and three defeats in the same set of fixtures.

Ahead of kick-off, Nigeria’s coach, Éric Chelle, urged his players to hit the ground running with fierce determination. Speaking to reporters in Polokwane on Thursday, he said the squad needs to dive in headfirst from the opening minute and stay laser-focused on grabbing all three points. Chelle cautioned that the beautiful game throws up curveballs like dodgy weather, referee slip-ups, or player errors, but nothing should distract from the mission at hand.

Several squads in the group still harbour realistic chances of topping the table, so the pressure is on for Nigeria to deliver. A slip here could spell the end of their World Cup adventure, forcing them to watch from afar for a second tournament running.