Lesotho vs. Nigeria score: World Cup qualifying result, highlights as Super Eagles keep dream alive with vital win

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• Lesotho vs. Nigeria live score
• Match highlights and key events
• Lineups, team news and full rosters for October internationals
• Lesotho vs. Nigeria head to head record
• Where to watch the match

Nigeria battled to a vital 2-1 win over Lesotho to keep their World Cup qualification hopes alive.

Eric Chelle's side headed into Friday's penultimate qualifier in CAF Group C three points behind both Benin and South Africa, with only the group winners guaranteed to progress.

Following an uneventful first half, Nigeria stepped up the pressure during the second period and were awarded a penalty when Lesotho wing-back Thabang Malane blocked Moses Simon's shot with his arm.

Captain William Troost-Ekong stepped up to drill and unerring spot kick into the bottom right corner. It was almost 2-0 shortly afterwards when Nigeria's star striker Victor Osimhen lifted a shot over goalkeeper Sekhoane Moerane and against the post.

Simon's follow-up was cleared off the line and Sekhoane brilliantly diverted an Osimhen attempt against his upright aas the Super Eagles piled on the pressure.

The second goal finally arrived when Osimhen unselfishly played in substitute Akor Adams for a debut goal, only for Nigeria to almost self-destruct.

Goalkeeper Stanley Nwabili lost a left-wing corner, allowing Hlompho Kalake to set up a grandstand finish. Then, in the fifth and final minute to stoppage time, a mix-up between Nwabili and Wilfred Ndidi gave Fusi Matalabe the chance to equalise, but his shot trickled wide.

Nigeria remain third in the standings, three points behind group leaders Benin and one shy of South Africa, who drew 0-0 with lowly Zimbabwe. If the Super Eagles beat Benin by a better margin than the 2-1 defeat they suffered earlier in qualification and South Africa fail to beat Rwanda, they will top the group and reach the World Cup.

MORE: Who has qualified for FIFA World Cup 2026?

Lesotho vs. Nigeria score

Location: Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane (South Africa)
Kickoff time: 6 p.m. local time (5 p.m. BST / 12 p.m. ET)

Starting lineups:

Lesotho (5-3-2, right to left): 16. Sekhoane Moerane (GK) — 17. Thabang Malane, 2. Motlomelo Mkhwanzai, 20, Thabo Makhele, 21. Rethabile Mokokoane, 13. Fusi Matlabe — 8. Kananelo Rapuleng, 19. Lehlohonolo Matsua, 4. Tsepo Toloane —9. Sera Motebang, 10. Jane Ts'otleho

Nigeria (4-2-3-1, right to left): 23. Stanley Nwabali (GK) — 2. Benjamin Fredrick, 5. William Troost-Ekong, 21. Calvin Bassey, 13. Bruno Onyemaechi,— 4. Wilfried Ndidi, 17. Alex Iwobi — 15. Moses Simon, 10. Tolu Arokodare, 7. Ademola Lookman — 9. Victor Osimhen

MORE: All the teams who can qualify for the World Cup in October

Lesotho vs. Nigeria highlights, key events

Fulltime

Nigeria live to fight another day. Benin have scored what looks like a late winner in Rwanda, so the Super Eagles will face the group leaders in the final match knowing they need a win to overhaul them. South Africa's draw with lowly Zimbabwe is the most eyebrow-raising result of the day. If Nigeria beat Benin and South Africa don't beat Rwanda then the Super Eagles will qualify for the World Cup.

90+5 mins: Good heavens, Nigeria almost blow it at the last! Nwabali and Ndidi have a mix up on the edge of their own box, allowing Fusi Matlabe to prod goalwards... it's just wide.

82 mins: GOAL FOR LESOTHO! Now then, how are your nerves?! Nigeria have collapsed late on in games before in this group. Surely not again. Nwabali makes a mess of a left-wing corner and substitutes Hlompho Kalake meets the ball at the top of the bounce to slam into the roof of the net.

80 mins: GOOOOOOAAAAALLLLLLL!!!!! Debut goal from the substitute Akor Adams!!! What a moment for the Sevilla man. Lesotho, pushing for an equaliser on the break leave themselves exposed. Osimhen squares unselfishly and Adams fires a fine finish into the bottom corner.

78 mins: Osimhen hits the other post! In fairness, this one is all about Sekhoane, who does brilliantly to touch the striker's shot against his upright after some lovely footwork.

63 mins: HOW ON EARTH IS IT NOT 2-0 TO NIGERIA?!?!?!?! Osimhen gets in behind and lifts a deft finish over Sekhoane. The bouncing ball hits the outside of the left post and then all hell breaks loose. Simon picks up the pieces, his shot is blocked on the line and falls into Sekhoane's arms. Yikes!

59 mins: Iwobi fizzes a superb half-volley from 25 yards that Sekhoane does very well to touch behind.

55 mins: GOOOOOOOAAAAALLLLLL!!!!!! The captain steps up to dispatch a huge goal for his country. Sekhoane guessed correctly down to his left but Troost-Ekong drilled an unerring kick straight into the corner for his eighth international goal.

53 mins: PENALTY TO NIGERIA! Malane blocks Simon's shot with his hand. He didn't know much about it but the referee points to the spot. Troost-Ekong, not Osimhen, to take

Halftime

The whistle goes and the Super Eagles really should be in front! Simon delivers an inviting in-swining corner from the left that Arokodare gets up to meet unchallenged but glances wide. 

36 mins: Nigeria survive a counter-attack and come forward again. Osimhen heads goalwards but Sekhoane holds on.

33 mins: Unorthodox again from Sekhoane, who swats away a dangerous Lookman cross under pressure.

15 mins: Sekhoane almost gets himself into a mess, coming out of his area to retrieve an Iwobi throughball with Osimhen bearing down. The Lesotho goalkeeper manages to salvage the situation.

Nigeria lineup vs. Lesotho, team news

Eric Chelle is without Nottingham Forest defender Ola Aina but Fulham trio Calvin Bassey, Alex Iwobi and Samuel Chukwueze are all in the squad.

Victor Osimhen will lead the attack, with the 26-year-old in good form at Galatasaray, but there are no places in Chelle's roster for Victor Boniface and Kelechi Iheanacho.

The coach was forced to make two changes to his initial group after injuries ruled out Bright Osayi-Samuel and Cyriel Dessers. Porto left-back Zaidu Sanusi and Crystal Palace loanee Christantus Uche were brought in. Felix Agu is out with an ankle issue, so there are problems to solve in the full-back positions.

Chelle will also be mindful of suspension risks for some of his key players. Semi Ajayi, Bassey, Wilfred Ndidi, Iwobi, Ademola Lookman, and Stanley Nwabali would all miss the game against Benin should they receive a yellow card in this fixture.

Nigeria (4-2-3-1, right to left): 23. Stanley Nwabali (GK) — 2. Benjamin Fredrick, 5. William Troost-Ekong, 21. Calvin Bassey, 13. Bruno Onyemaechi,— 4. Wilfried Ndidi, 17. Alex Iwobi — 15. Moses Simon, 10. Tolu Arokodare, 7. Ademola Lookman — 9. Victor Osimhen

Nigeria subs: 1. Adebayo Adeleye (GK), Amas Obasogie (GK), 3. Zaidu Sanusi, 6. Semi Ajayi, 8. Frank Onyeka, 14. Yusuf Abdullahi, 18. Christantus Uche, 11. Samuel Chukwueze, 19. Terem Igobor Moffi, 20. Akor Adams.

Full Nigeria squad

Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali, Amas Obasogie, Adeleye Adebayo

Defenders: William Ekong, Calvin Bassey, Oluwasemilogo Ajayi, Bruno Onyemaechi, Felix Agu, Benjamin Fredericks, Zaidu Sanusi, 

Midfielders: Alex Iwobi, Frank Onyeka, Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi, Wilfred Ndidi, Christantus Uche

Forwards: Ademola Lookman, Samuel Chukwueze, Victor Osimhen, Moses Simon, Cyriel Dessers, Tolu Arokodare, Terem Moffi, Akor Adams, Olakunle Olusegun

Lesotho vs. Nigeria stats, head to head

This will be the fifth meeting between Lesotho and Nigeria. The Super Eagles have won three, with the game between the countries at the start of this qualifying run the first to end all square.

Lesotho vs. Nigeria live stream, TV channel

The match will stream globally on the FIFA+ platform.