Nigeria have been given a World Cup 2026 lifeline ahead of Friday’s penultimate qualifying contest against Lesotho at the Peter Mokaba Stadium.
The Super Eagles were almost sure to miss out on consecutive World Cup finals after September’s international break; however, South Africa being docked points for fielding an ineligible Teboho Mokoena in the fifth round of games against Lesotho in March means the third-placed West African giants are only three points behind Benin and Bafana Bafana with two games remaining.
Nigeria might still miss out on next year’s global showpiece in the United States, Canada and Mexico, but Eric Chelle’s team have been presented with a significant opportunity with two games remaining.
Last month’s 1-1 draw against South Africa left the three-time African champions six points behind Hugo Broos’s side, effectively ending their hopes of a seventh finals appearance.
However, Bafana Bafana’s 2-0 win over Lesotho in March was later awarded as a 3-0 defeat due to Mokoena’s ineligibility for that fixture, giving fans of the West African nation hope as the final two rounds approach.
Although Nigeria’s fate remains out of their hands — requiring them to win both matches against Lesotho and Benin and hoping South Africa drop points against Zimbabwe and Rwanda — Chelle’s team are in a more hopeful position than a month ago.
With up to five nations still mathematically capable of topping the group, the Super Eagles must beat their fifth-placed opponents in Polokwane to keep the qualification race alive heading into the final fixtures.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
