Nigeria’s path to the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification has come down to fine margins, fierce urgency, and a little mathematics.
The Super Eagles travel to Polokwane, South Africa, to face Lesotho’s Crocodiles in a must-win fixture that carries the weight of a nation’s expectation.
Against the tiny Southern African nation, the Super Eagles know it’s not just about winning. It’s about winning big.
With Benin and South Africa sitting comfortably atop Group C, both better off on points and goal difference, Nigeria know that every strike, every shot, and every goal could define their qualification fate. After a frustrating series of results, this is where class, character, and clinical finishing must align.
Fortunately, there are five players who could make all the difference.
1. Victor Osimhen
When Victor Osimhen plays, Nigeria believe. When he doesn’t, they often falter. It’s that simple.
At 26, Osimhen has become the emotional engine of this team: fierce, passionate, and unyieldingly hungry. He doesn’t just lead the line; he drags defenders around, presses with fury, and inspires teammates through sheer force of will.
Nigeria’s second all-time top scorer has developed a knack for turning half-chances into headlines. His goals have rescued points, defined moments, and kept the Super Eagles in contention when all seemed lost.
Head coach Eric Chelle must ensure the system works around him; fast wingers stretching play, midfielders feeding him early, and runners drawing defenders away. Give Osimhen service, and Lesotho’s defence will be in for a torrid evening.
If Nigeria are to soar again, Osimhen’s boots and head must do the talking. And given his record, they usually do… loudly.
2. Akor Adams
In football, confidence is everything. And Akor Adams currently has it in abundance.
After a slow start to life at Sevilla, the 24-year-old has hit the kind of form that gets fans talking. A last-minute winner against Rayo Vallecano was followed by an expert finish in Sevilla’s 4-1 demolition of Barcelona.
Those goals earned him his first-ever Super Eagles call-up and the timing couldn’t be better.
Adams is strong, quick, and direct; a striker who relishes contact and thrives on chaos inside the box. If he carries his club form into international duty, he could join the elite company of Nigerians who scored on their debut.
Chelle faces a pleasant dilemma: start Adams alongside Osimhen or bring him on as a second-half weapon. Either way, a front two of Adams and Osimhen could leave Lesotho’s backline chasing shadows and praying for mercy.
Nigeria need goals, lots of them. Adams looks ready to provide exactly that.
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3. Samuel Chukwueze
On his day, Samuel Chukwueze is an enigma. An unpredictable magician. He frustrates, he delights, and when he’s truly switched on, he devastates.
Blessed with electric pace, dazzling feet, and the ability to slice through tight defences, Chukwueze remains one of Nigeria’s most gifted attackers. The challenge, however, has always been consistency.
Chelle seems to have found a way to unlock his potential. Against Rwanda in Kigali, Chukwueze was the difference-maker, twisting defenders inside-out.
At the Unity Cup against Jamaica earlier this year, he sparkled again, drifting between lines, linking play beautifully and capping his performance with a delightful goal.
If that version of Chukwueze turns up in Polokwane, Lesotho’s full-backs are in for a nightmare. The AC Milan man (currently on loan at Fulham) is capable of conjuring magic from nothing: a solo run, a curling finish, or a defence-splitting assist.
Nigeria don’t just need his flair; they need his focus. If he combines both, Friday could be his stage to shine once more.
4. Alex Iwobi
Every orchestra needs its conductor, and for Nigeria, that’s Alex Iwobi.
In the past 16 months, the Fulham midfielder has found his best club form; elegant in possession, smart in distribution, tireless in pressing and chipping in with the odd goal and assist. That evolution has turned him into Nigeria’s creative compass.
Iwobi doesn’t just connect passes; he connects purpose. He links midfield to attack, dictates tempo, and ensures that Osimhen, Lookman, and Chukwueze see more of the ball in dangerous areas. When he ticks, Nigeria’s rhythm flows. When he doesn’t, it falters.
Against a compact Lesotho side likely to defend deep, Iwobi’s ability to unlock tight spaces could be crucial. His range of passing, movement, and positional intelligence will determine how quickly Nigeria transition from patient buildup to ruthless execution.
If Iwobi dictates proceedings, the Crocodiles might spend much of the evening chasing shadows in Polokwane.
5. Calvin Bassey
While much of the attention is on Nigeria’s attack, it’s at the back that the real worry lies.
Captain William Troost-Ekong is beginning to struggle with sharpness as he flips more pages after age 30. Semi Ajayi is easing back to full fitness, and a number of regular full-backs (Felix Agu, Ola Aina, Bright Osayi-Samuel) are unavailable.
It is a scenario that leaves the Super Eagles defence looking thinner than it should at this critical juncture.
Enter Calvin Bassey. Fit, in form, and fearless.
The Fulham defender has grown into one of the Premier League’s most dependable centre-backs over the past two seasons. Bassey combines raw strength with composure and an ever-improving reading of the game. In Polokwane, he’ll need all of that and more.
Bassey’s job will be to organise the backline, maintain focus during counterattacks, and lead by example. Nigeria cannot afford defensive lapses; one sucker punch could turn jubilation into disaster.
If Bassey can hold the fort, the attackers can roam free, confident that their rear guard won’t crumble.
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