2026 World Cup Qualifier: Nigeria forces Lesotho to a 1-1draw

The Super Eagles Coach on Thurday drew 1-1 with the Crocodiles of Lesotho in a Group stage of Group C of the  2026 world cup qualifier in Uyo, Akwa Ibom.

BRANDPOWER reports that the match was played at the Godswill Akpabio International stadium in Uyo.

Speaking after the match, Eagles Coach Jose Peseiro who was not  happy with the result, said the team played well but were unable to utilised their scoring chances, especially in the first half.

“I’m not happy today with the outcome of the match. We dominated the game but unfortunately we drew.

“They were lucky, we missed so many scoring chances. The draw is not good for us, no one is happy but we hope to win the next match,” Peseiro said.

Also speaking, the Head Coach of  Lesotho, Leslie Notsi, said that they had expected a very tough match with the  Eagles.

Nigeria began their campaign for qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on a poor note on Thursday in Uyo with a 1-1 draw with Lesotho.

In the Group C Match Day 1 fixture played before a relatively-sparse crowd at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Nigeria missed winning the game out of their own inadequacies.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Super Eagles were expected to win the match massively, given their opponents’ low ranking by FIFA.

They even had to struggle to pick a point from the match in the long run, after Motlomelo Mkwanazi gave the number 153-ranked Lesotho a shock lead.

He scored in the 56th minute from a corner-kick, while centre-back Semi Ajayi powerfully headed in Kelechi Iheanacho’s corner-kick to level the game 11 minutes later.

Nigeria’s attacking line of stand-in captain Iheanacho, Ademola Lookman, Taiwo Awoniyi and Victor Boniface failed to find the chance to test goalkeeper Sekhoane Moerane.

The goalkeeper, who was also his team captain, marshaled his defenceline well to foil the Eagles’ offensive attempts.

But it was the hosts who could have even fallen behind after 16 minutes, when Tsepang Seeali fired point-blank at Francis Uzoho following a poor ball by Alex Iwobi.

The Super Eagles did threaten the Crocodiles’ rear, with defender Jamilu Collins’ close shot parried and Boniface heading over.

Also, Iheanacho had a dipping shot from a 20-yard free-kick punched away by the magnificent Moerane.

But Awoniyi missed Nigeria’s best chance of the first half when he pushed wide a pass by Boniface in the 36^th minute.

Lookman also watched as his left-footed shot from the left was parried away.

In the second half, the hosts began on a good note only for Iwobi’s shot to be parried away in the 52^nd minute.

But about four minutes later, the Crocodiles shot ahead, after Uzoho failed to deal with the ball from a corner-kick and Mkwanazi struck with a header.

The Eagles fought back to draw a save from Moerane to Collins’ effort, while Iheanacho watched his shot come back off the upright.

The Leicester City FC player soon swung in a corner-kick for Ajayi to nod past the goalkeeper for Nigeria’s equaliser.

There were several opportunities thereafter to score the winner from promising free-kick positions, but they all looked to be from half-hearted efforts through lack of cohesion.

In spite of the earlier introduction of Moses Simon, and later Terem Moffi, the match ended in a draw for both teams to take a point each from the encounter.

Notsi said playing a draw was good for his team who came with respect for the eagles  because of their standing.

The coach said that playing a draw with Nigeria has given the team enough confidence to move to the next match.

“We came knowing that it is going to be a very tough match, so played out our  strength  to make sure we score before the  Eagles.

“Coming to Nigeria and getting a draw will give us more confidence. We will be progressing gradually before we can talk of qualification,” Notsi said.

Nigeria will play Zimbabwe in Rwanda in another Group C qualifier on Sunday.