Lesotho vs. Nigeria live score: World Cup qualifying result, highlights as Super Eagles face must-win game originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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• Lesotho vs. Nigeria live score
• Match highlights and key events
• Lineups, team news and full rosters for October internationals
• Lesotho vs. Nigeria head to head record
• Where to watch the match

Nigeria’s World Cup qualification hopes are hanging by a thread and nothing other than a win will do against Lesotho on Friday.

A 1-1 draw away to South Africa last time out left the Super Eagles virtually out of the running, but Bafana Bafana have been effectively docked three points for fielding an ineligible player against Lesotho earlier in qualification.

It means Benin and South Africa each have 14 points, with Nigeria three further back on 11 and with Benin to come in their final qualifier.

Only the team that comes first is guaranteed a World Cup place. The stakes could not be higher for Eric Chelle’s men.

MORE: Who has qualified for FIFA World Cup 2026?

Lesotho vs. Nigeria live score

Location: Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane (South Africa)
Kickoff time: 6 p.m. local time (5 p.m. BST / 12 p.m. ET)

Starting lineups:

Lesotho (5-3-2, right to left): 16. Sekhoane Moerane (GK) — 17. Thabang Malane, 2. Motlomelo Mkhwanzai, 20, Thabo Makhele, 21. Rethabile Mokokoane, 13. Fusi Matlabe — 8. Kananelo Rapuleng, 19. Lehlohonolo Matsua, 4. Tsepo Toloane —9. Sera Motebang, 10. Jane Ts’otleho

Nigeria (4-2-3-1, right to left): 23. Stanley Nwabali (GK) — 2. Benjamin Fredrick, 5. William Troost-Ekong, 21. Calvin Bassey, 13. Bruno Onyemaechi,— 4. Wilfried Ndidi, 17. Alex Iwobi — 15. Moses Simon, 10. Tolu Arokodare, 7. Ademola Lookman — 9. Victor Osimhen

MORE: All the teams who can qualify for the World Cup in October

Lesotho vs. Nigeria highlights, key events

36 mins: Nigeria survive a counter-attack and come forward again. Osimhen heads goalwards but Sekhoane holds on.

33 mins: Unorthodox again from Sekhoane, who swats away a dangerous Lookman cross under pressure.

15 mins: Sekhoane almost gets himself into a mess, coming out of his area to retrieve an Iwobi throughball with Osimhen bearing down. The Lesotho goalkeeper manages to salvage the situation.

Nigeria lineup vs. Lesotho, team news

Eric Chelle is without defender Ola Aina but trio Calvin Bassey, Alex Iwobi and Samuel Chukwueze are all in the squad.

Victor Osimhen will lead the attack, with the 26-year-old in good form at Galatasaray, but there are no places in Chelle’s roster for Victor Boniface and Kelechi Iheanacho.

The coach was forced to make two changes to his initial group after injuries ruled out Bright Osayi-Samuel and Cyriel Dessers. Porto left-back Zaidu Sanusi and loanee Christantus Uche were brought in. Felix Agu is out with an ankle issue, so there are problems to solve in the full-back positions.

Chelle will also be mindful of suspension risks for some of his key players. Semi Ajayi, Bassey, Wilfred Ndidi, Iwobi, Ademola Lookman, and Stanley Nwabali would all miss the game against Benin should they receive a yellow card in this fixture.

Nigeria (4-2-3-1, right to left): 23. Stanley Nwabali (GK) — 2. Benjamin Fredrick, 5. William Troost-Ekong, 21. Calvin Bassey, 13. Bruno Onyemaechi,— 4. Wilfried Ndidi, 17. Alex Iwobi — 15. Moses Simon, 10. Tolu Arokodare, 7. Ademola Lookman — 9. Victor Osimhen

Nigeria subs: 1. Adebayo Adeleye (GK), Amas Obasogie (GK), 3. Zaidu Sanusi, 6. Semi Ajayi, 8. Frank Onyeka, 14. Yusuf Abdullahi, 18. Christantus Uche, 11. Samuel Chukwueze, 19. Terem Igobor Moffi, 20. Akor Adams.

Full Nigeria squad

Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali, Amas Obasogie, Adeleye Adebayo

Defenders: William Ekong, Calvin Bassey, Oluwasemilogo Ajayi, Bruno Onyemaechi, Felix Agu, Benjamin Fredericks, Zaidu Sanusi, 

Midfielders: Alex Iwobi, Frank Onyeka, Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi, Wilfred Ndidi, Christantus Uche

Forwards: Ademola Lookman, Samuel Chukwueze, Victor Osimhen, Moses Simon, Cyriel Dessers, Tolu Arokodare, Terem Moffi, Akor Adams, Olakunle Olusegun

Lesotho vs. Nigeria stats, head to head

This will be the fifth meeting between Lesotho and Nigeria. The Super Eagles have won three, with the game between the countries at the start of this qualifying run the first to end all square.

Lesotho vs. Nigeria live stream, TV channel

The match will stream globally on the FIFA+ platform.