In a less-than-ideal start to their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification journey, the Super Eagles were held to a 1-1 draw by Lesotho in their opening match on Thursday. Despite being strong favourites, the Nigerian squad failed to meet expectations against the determined Crocodiles.
The first half saw Nigeria controlling possession and creating several opportunities, with Kelechi Iheanacho and Taiwo Awoniyi coming close to scoring. However, a breakthrough remained elusive.
To the surprise of many, Lesotho took the lead shortly after halftime through Motlomelo Mkhwanazi’s strike, leaving the home crowd in shock. Nigeria continued their offensive efforts and managed to equalize in the 67th minute, thanks to Semi Ajayi’s well-timed header.
The drawn result has left Nigeria frustrated, and what seemed like a potential statement win for qualification is now shaping up to be a challenging task. Manager Jose Peseiro will be looking for a resilient response from the team in their next qualifier against Zimbabwe on Sunday.
In summary, the Super Eagles’ encounter with the spirited but lower-ranked Lesotho resulted in disappointment. The team’s failure to assert dominance underscores the need for significant improvements as they strive to realize their World Cup aspirations following their miss in the Qatar 2022 campaign.
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