The Super Eagles are brimming with confidence and focus as they prepare for a pivotal 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Lesotho.
With their World Cup hopes hanging in the balance, key players have voiced their determination to secure a vital win in this must-win encounter at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane.
Midfielder Wilfred Ndidi emphasized the importance of the upcoming match.
“We know where we are at the moment, and these two games are very crucial. But first of all, we focus on the Lesotho one, and then we look towards the Benin one. The most important thing right now is the Lesotho game.”
Defender Calvin Bassey highlighted the squad’s composure under pressure.
“To remain calm and do what we have to do. I think this is not the first time — club or country — any one of us has been in high-pressure moments. We’ve got an experienced team to handle this
situation. It’s just about making sure we do everything right,” Bassey said.
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Striker Terem Moffi expressed optimism about Nigeria’s World Cup qualification prospects, acknowledging the need for results to align in their favor.
“We’re really confident about qualifying for the World Cup. We have to do our part and wait for the results of the other teams. We’re confident things will go our way,” Moffi noted.
Captain William Troost-Ekong echoed his teammates’ sentiments.
“We’re always going to fight to the end. We believe — we never stop believing. Two important games now: Friday, the first one, and then after that we get back to Nigeria. But all focus now is on Lesotho,” Ekong said.
He added, “The boys are in camp, focused, and spirits are high. It’s been the same for us all along — we have to win these games.”
The Super Eagles sit in a precarious position in their World Cup qualifying group, making the matches against Lesotho and Benin critical to keeping their hopes alive for a spot at the 2026 tournament.
A victory against Lesotho, ranked significantly lower in the FIFA rankings, is seen as non-negotiable for Nigeria to bolster their chances.
As the team fine-tunes its preparations in Polokwane, the players remain focused on executing their game plan and capitalizing on their strengths.
The match against Lesotho kicks off on Friday, with the Super Eagles set to channel their optimism and focus into a performance that could define their World Cup journey.
