When Nigeria plays Lesotho at home in the Godswill Akpabio Stadium on Thursday (today) to start their 2026 World Cup qualification campaign, the three players Victor Osimhen, Samuel Chukwueze, and Wilfred Ndidi will be absent.
The three-time African champions played a goalless draw away from home before playing a 1-1 tie with Ghana at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja, meaning they were unable to advance to the most recent World Cup in Qatar.
The Eagles have qualified for six of the previous eight tournaments since their debut World Cup appearance in 1994; they have only missed the 2006 and 2022 editions. This means that they have never missed two consecutive Mundials.
Even though they entered the game as favorites, the Eagles’ goals will be to defeat the Crocodiles and secure a spot in the Mundial before South Africa, the Benin Republic, Rwanda, and Lesotho.
Currently on a five-game unbeaten run, the Eagles will be relying on the prolific form of Kelechi Iheanacho, Victor Boniface, Taiwo Awoniyi and Terem Moffi to kick-start their qualification campaign on a winning note after Rwanda and Zimbabwe played out a goalless draw on Wednesday.
Speaking ahead of the encounter Lesotho coach, Leslie Notsi is optimistic that his team can curtail the pressure of the Eagles and their fans in Uyo.
“Our expectation is to have a tough match and we are taking this opportunity as a young football nation to get the exposure experience,” Notsi said.
