Nigeria’s Super Eagles opened their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers campaign with a disappointing 1-1 draw against the Crocodiles of Lesotho at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom, on Thursday.

Nigeria began the game on the front foot, dictating control of the ball. They launched their first attempt on target as soon as the seventh minute, but the Lesotho defenders dealt with Taiwo Awoniyi’s nice flick.

The visitors’ goalkeeper, Sekhoamine Mowrane, was called to action in the 34th minute, but safety parried Kelechi Iheanacho’s free-kick from the edge of the box to a corner kick. Barely three minutes later, Awoniyi missed a sitter and failed to give Nigeria the lead.

In the 56th minute, Nigeria were shocked after the Crocodiles grabbed an unlikely lead against the Eagles courtesy of Motlomelo Mkwanazi’s header from a corner kick, with Tshwarelo Bereng registering the assist.

Eight minutes later, Iheanacho almost brought Nigeria back into the game, but the effort from the Leicester City player from the edge of the 18-yard box struck the goalpost as the Eagles continued their search for a goal.

Assisted by Iheanacho from a corner kick, West Brom defender Semi Ajayi powered into the net a header to rescue a point for the Eagles. 

Paired alongside South Africa, Rwanda, Benin Republic, and Zimbabwe in Group C of the qualifiers, every point is needed to secure the only automatic ticket to the 2026 World Cup in the group. 

What next for Nigeria?

The Eagles will travel to Rwanda to tango ‘The Warriors’ of Zimbabwe in their second Group C match of the qualifiers on Sunday, 19 November, as Nigeria hope to return to the football global stage after missing the 2022 Qatar World Cup.