2026 FIFA World Cup: Super Eagles Go All Out for Three Points Against Crocodiles
The Super Eagles of Nigeria will go up against the Crocodiles of Lesotho in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match later today.
The game is scheduled for the New Peter Mokaba Stadium in the South African city of Polokwane, and the Super Eagles need all three points to keep their hope of qualifying alive.
Africa’s best players in the past two years, Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman will lead Nigeria’s charge against the Crocodiles
The clash is the penultimate matchday of the series, with Nigeria needing all three points and favour from elsewhere to stand in good stead heading into the final matchday, when they host present group leaders Benin Republic at Uyo’s Godswill Akpabio Stadium.
With three points off first-placed Benin Republic and second-placed South Africa, Nigeria must go guns-blazing for their remaining two games, starting with the encounter with the Crocodiles on neutral ground on Friday.
Coach Eric Chelle has been unable to call on wing-back Olaoluwa Aina, injured on an atrocious Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein pitch in the clash with South Africa’s Bafana Bafana last month, and defender Bright Osayi-Samuel, midfielder Raphael Onyedika and forward Cyriel Dessers are also out injured.
However, Chelle welcomes back Osimhen (who missed the clash with the Bafana after sustaining an injury against Rwanda in Uyo days earlier), and the triumvirate that shone brightly at last year’s Africa Cup of Nations (the others being Ademola Lookman and Simon Moses) is intact for this big challenge.
Goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali is most likely to retain his place in goal, with Captain William Ekong, Calvin Bassey, Bruno Onyemaechi, Semi Ajayi, Zaidu Sanusi and Benjamin Frederick all in line for shirts in the defenceline, and Alex Iwobi, Wilfred Ndidi, Frank Onyeka, Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi and Christantus Uche available for selection in midfield.
Osimhen, Lookman and Moses are top for the fore, but Chelle also has Samuel Chukwueze, Tolu Arokodare, Terem Moffi and Jerome Akor Adams all in good form.
Meanwhile, Algeria have qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after beating Somalia three-zero in their qualifying match yesterday, with Wolfsburg’s MOHAMED AMOURA scoring two of the goals.