Tension Over Nigeria’s Qualification For 2026 FIFA World Cup As Super Eagles Lock Horns With Crocodiles Of Lesotho Today

<h4>Tension Over<&sol;h4>&NewLine;<p>&nbsp&semi;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><strong><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;openlife&period;ng&sol;">OpenLife Nigeria<&sol;a> <&sol;strong>reports that all eyes are on the New Peter Mokaba Stadium&comma; South Africa&comma; on Friday as the Super Eagles lock horns with the Crocodiles of Lesotho in what promises to be a last-chance match for Nigeria in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>The Super Eagles were almost certain to miss out on consecutive <a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;openlife&period;ng&sol;">World Cup finals<&sol;a> after their September 1-1 draw against South Africa’s Bafana Bafana&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>However&comma; they were handed a lifeline when South Africa were docked points for fielding an ineligible player&comma; narrowing the gap at the top of Group C&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<figure id&equals;"attachment&lowbar;23701" aria-describedby&equals;"caption-attachment-23701" style&equals;"width&colon; 300px" class&equals;"wp-caption alignnone"><img class&equals;"size-medium wp-image-23701" src&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;openlife&period;ng&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2024&sol;01&sol;Super-Eagles-1-300x113&period;jpg" alt&equals;"Tension Over Nigeria’s Qualification For 2026 FIFA World Cup As Super Eagles Lock Horns With Crocodiles Of Lesotho Today" width&equals;"300" height&equals;"113" &sol;><figcaption id&equals;"caption-attachment-23701" class&equals;"wp-caption-text"><em><strong>Super Eagles<&sol;strong><&sol;em><&sol;figcaption><&sol;figure>&NewLine;<p>The ruling left Nigeria three points adrift of Benin and South Africa with two games remaining&comma; reshaping the qualification race and keeping Nigeria’s hopes alive&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><strong>Decisive game for the Super Eagles<&sol;strong><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>Nigeria cannot afford to lose either of their remaining two matches&comma; starting with Friday’s fixture against Lesotho&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>They must also hope South Africa slip up in their remaining games against Zimbabwe and Rwanda&period;<br &sol;>&NewLine;With several teams still mathematically capable of topping the group&comma; a win in Polokwane is essential if the Super Eagles are to keep their campaign alive&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><strong>Group standings<&sol;strong><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>Benin top the group with 14 points and a &plus;4 goal difference&comma; while <a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;openlife&period;ng&sol;">South Africa<&sol;a> are second on 14 points with a &plus;2 goal difference&period; Nigeria sit third on 11 points and a &plus;2 goal difference&comma; followed by Rwanda on 11 points and a neutral goal difference&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><strong>Head-to-head<&sol;strong><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>Since 2019&comma; the sides have met three times&colon; they have drawn once and Nigeria have won twice&period;<br &sol;>&NewLine;Lesotho held Nigeria to a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium&comma; Uyo&comma; on November 16&comma; 2023&comma; and will be looking to cause another upset in Polokwane&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><strong>Record so far<&sol;strong><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>The Super Eagles’ World Cup qualifying campaign has been patchy&period; To date&comma; they have recorded two wins&comma; five draws and one defeat&comma; while Lesotho have two wins&comma; three draws and three losses&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><strong>Optimism<&sol;strong><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>Ahead of the crucial tie&comma; head coach <a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;vanguardngr&period;com&sol;">Éric Chelle<&sol;a> and some Super Eagles stars have expressed optimism about their chances&period;<br &sol;>&NewLine;Speaking at a press conference in Polokwane on Thursday&comma; Chelle said the team must begin the game aggressively and with full focus&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>Chelle warned that football is unpredictable&comma; considering factors such as weather&comma; refereeing errors&comma; and individual mistakes can influence outcomes&period;<br &sol;>&NewLine;But he insisted the squad’s attention must remain on securing three points&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><strong>Match details<&sol;strong><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><em>Matchday nine will take place on Friday &lpar;today&rpar;&comma; October 10&comma; at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium&comma; Polokwane&comma; with kick-off at 6&colon;00 p&period;m&period; local time &lpar;5&colon;00 p&period;m&period; Nigeria time&rpar;&period;<&sol;em><br &sol;>&NewLine;<em>Fans can watch on DStv’s SuperSport&comma; SportyBet TV and AfroSport&period;<&sol;em><&sol;p>&NewLine;