Nigeria’s Super Eagles will hope to start their qualifying campaign for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on a strong footing when they battle Lesotho’s Crocodiles in Group C at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on Thursday.
The Eagles, who are currently undefeated in their last five matches across all competitions, head into the game on a four-match winning streak against the visitors and will look to extend their dominance over the Southern African nation.
In what many consider a tough group, Nigeria are favourites to top the group ticket ahead of Benin and South Africa, even as their opponents in Thursday’s match, as well as Rwanda and Zimbabwe are capable of pulling off upsets.
Super Eagles’ primary objective is to erase the memory of losing the 2022 Qatar World Cup ticket to arch rivals, Black Stars of Ghana at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.
Lesotho, on the other hand, will want to make amends for their disappointing campaign in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers, finishing at the bottom of Group H after losing five of their six matches and claiming just one point from a possible 18.
The southern Africans are also coming into the game on a run of three defeats in their last four matches, with a penalty-shootout victory over Malawi in the COSAFA Cup on July 14 being the exception.
The three time African champions will be without some key first team players, including star strikers Victor Osimhen and Samuel Chukwueze, who were both nursing injuries. Also out of the team is Wilfred Ndidi.
Speaking ahead of the clash, Fulham midfielder Alex Iwobi said he and his teammates were keen to play at the 2026 World Cup after they were denied a place at the Qatar 2022 showpiece.
The former Arsenal star made his first World Cup appearance in Russia 2018, where the Super Eagles bowed out in the group stage.
“I would like to be there again, it’s not about me, everyone is ready to qualify and represent the nation,” Iwobi told the Super Eagles media.
“Everyone is in camp and we are ready, it’s a blessing that we have many players and we are ready to go.”
