BY SAB OSUJI

Adebayo Gbadebo, a former Stationery Stores of Lagos man and now a coach based in Thailand, has likened Thursday's 1-1 draw between Super Eagles and Crocodiles of Lesotho in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification series as warning that Super Eagles seventh FIFA World Cup finals qualification is in danger, Exclusivenews.com.ng reports.

Gbadebo fears that much as the Eagles failed to arrive at the Lesotho party in expected and needed fashion, Coach Jose Peseiro's post match comments further indicates that truly, 'there's fire on the Mountain.

Despite the obvious fact that Super Eagles frontbench lacked the cutting edge in the final third during the game, resulting in only a goal after first, falling behind to Lesotho that had lost her four previous games against the Super Eagles, Peseiro still exhumed confidence and spoke highly of his players.

"My players controlled the game, 76-24 ball possession. We played many shots on their goal. They sat back all through the game and two or three times on our goal.

"We played better but could not score plenty goals. The ball did not go in....", Peseiro said after the disappointing performance.

Team captain, Kenneth Omeruo responded to a question, insisting the Super Eagles did not underrated the Crocodiles of Lesotho in the game.

But Gbadebo believes that the performance of the team and indeed the outcome of the match was a warning that 'USA/Canada/Mexico 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification is not a guarantee' for the Super Eagles.

"A stitch in time saves nine, that is the words of the Elders", says Gbadebo, a former Eagles star.

"With the result and the Press Conference, you can easily conclude that there is fire on the Mountain.

"The 2026 World Cup qualification is not guaranteed. A draw to Lesotho at home or at away is a loss for Nigeria Super Eagles", Gbadebo emphasised.

Super Eagles landed in Kigali, Rwanda, in the early hours of Saturday, 18 November from where they embarked on a two-hour journey to Butare, venue Sunday's Match Day Two fixture against Warriors of Zimbabwe on Sunday, 19 November, 2023.