Nigeria’s Super Eagles on Friday night at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in South Africa rekindled the hopes of soccer loving Nigerians with a 2-1 over the Crocodiles of Lesotho in the African Group C 2026 world cup qualifier. 

A hand ball made the Ref to point to the spot and Eagles Captain William Troost-Ekong tucked it into the net effortlessly for Nigeria’s goal number one. New boy Akor Adams of Sevilla FC got a good pass from Victor Osimhen and scored Nigeria’s 2nd goal in the 80th minute before local boy of Bantu FC, Hlompho Kelake lone strike beat Goal Keeper Nwabali in the minute in the 83rd minute. 

Nigeria rated 45 by FIFA facing 153 rated Lesotho in world football was seen as a misnomer even with the galaxy of stars Nigeria bought to the field which included two African Footballer of the year in Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman. Lookman was flashed a yellow in the 64th minute and will not be available for selection in the last group match against Benin Republic. 

Nigeria and Lesotho met thrice on 17th November 2019 in AFCON qualifier with Lesotho 1 Nigeria 2; met on 30th March 2021 also in AFCON qualifier with Nigeria 3 Lesotho 0 and at the world cup qualifier played at Uyo, Nigeria it was a shocker as Lesotho got a 1-1 draw.

Benin Republic still proved to be a leavened stuff that may level Nigeria’s hope when she defeated Rwanda in an away match played at the Amahoro stadium in Kigali this evening. Lorient FC of Belgium Forward, Tosin Aiyegun struck in the 80th minute from Asec Mimosas Midfielder, Romaric Amoussou.

It was a shocker for South Africa to be held to a barren draw by Zimbabwe at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban in South Africa in a match that saw two red cards for central striker Knowledge Musona of Zimbabwe in 63rd minute and defender Mbokazi of South Africa in 90+7th minute meaning they will be on suspension and not available for last group matches. They were not straight red cards but yellow cards preceded before the marching order came.

As at the end of Match Day 9 with only a match to go for the group curtains to be closed, Benin Republic leads with 17 points scoring 12 goals and conceding 7; South Africa is still 2nd with 15 points scoring 12 goals and conceding 9 goals; Nigeria is 3rd with 14 points scoring 11 times and conceding 8 goals; Rwanda is 4th with 11points scoring 5 goals and conceding 6; Lesotho is 5th with 9 points scoring 8 goals and conceding12 and Zimbabwe rocks the bottom with 5 points scoring 5 goals and conceding 11.

Football pundits will pick their calculators to work out a massive win for Nigeria in their last match against Benin Republic at Uyo on Tuesday at 5 pm and pray fervently upon their Watch Towers that South Africa lose or play draw at home to Rwanda on Tuesday at 5pm but the formality match between Lesotho and Zimbabwe will be played on Monday 13th October at 5pm on South African soil.

Leader of the group will automatically qualify for the Mundial in the Americas next year while the group Runners up will be subjected to another playoff.