Final verdict yet to come: Super Eagles survive Lesotho, Benin top the group!

Nigeria did their part of the job and brushed Lesotho aside, harder than expected, though. The Crocodiles held out for the entire first half, and had it not been for a penalty kick for the Super Eagles in the 55th minute and William Troost-Ekong's opener, the visitors' win would have been questionable.

Still, Akor Adams doubled the lead in the 80th minute, while Hlompho Kalake's 83rd-minute consolation goal wasn't enough for Lesotho to avoid defeat.

After being deducted three points for including a suspended player in the squad, South Africa failed to beat ten-man Zimbabwe on the road, even though the home crew's Knowledge Musona was sent off in the 64th minute.

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On the other hand, Benin exploited Bafana Bafana's failure, beat Rwanda 1-0 on the road thanks to Aiyegun Tosin's 80th-minute winner, and took over the top spot in Group C, two points above South Africa and three points above Nigeria!

In the last round, on Tuesday, Nigeria will host Benin, and Bafana Bafana will play Rwanda at home. That will be the D-Day when the final verdict will be made.

Ahead of the penultimate round in Group C of the 2026 FIFA World Cup African qualifiers, Nigeria were third, tied with Rwanda, and three points behind the leading duo, South Africa and Benin. The Super Eagles had hope thanks to South Africa's points deduction, so their task was crystal clear - beat Lesotho and hope for Bafana Bafana and/or the Cheetahs' failures in their duels against Zimbabwe and Rwanda, respectively.

However, even though they controlled practically everything on the pitch, had a significant possession advantage, and controlled the ball, they had one so-so chance when the Lesotho keeper stopped Alex Iwobi one-on-one in the fifth minute.

The importance of the game had apparently affected the Nigerians, and the pressure prevented them from putting in their best performance.

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On the other hand, the home team (playing in Polokwane, South Africa) barely touched the ball in the opposite half, while its most notable player was the custodian and captain, Sekhoane Moerane, who inspired confidence in his entire team with timely run-outs and composed goalkeeping.

The crocodiles tried to threaten through hasty counters, but the Super Eagles' offside traps worked perfectly.

Luckily for Eric Chelle's squad, South Africa and Benin also played goalless first halves in their respective games.

Nevertheless, things started to change in Nigeria's favour, as they were awarded a penalty in the 55th minute - after Motlomelo Mtwanazi's handball following Moses Simon's effort - which their skipper William Troost-Ekong sent home, giving his team a crucial lead.

The visitors felt that they had the momentum on their side and went for the second goal. Eight minutes after the opener, they were close to sealing the deal, but were unlucky. Victor Osimhen hit the post, while Simon's rebound shot was stopped with a goal-line clearance. In the 79th minute, the Galatasaray striker completed a brace of posts, as fortune wasn't on his side tonight.

And when Osimhen couldn't score, he made an assist! The Super Eagles initiated a quick fastbreak, the ex-Napoli man found the sub Akor Adams, who netted his maiden national team goal and doubled his crew's lead!

At that point, Nigeria's job seemed done, but alas... Just three minutes later, the visitors' custodian Stanley Nwabali made a massive error, dropping the ball, and allowed Lesotho's Hlompho Kalake to revive the Crocodiles' hopes of avoiding defeat and strike fear into the Nigerians' bones.

In the end, Chelle's men defended the lead and won the game, keeping their World Cup dream alive. Considering the rivals' results, they had mixed feelings, as South Africa drew 0-0 against Zimbabwe, while Benin beat Rwanda 1-0, and kept a three-point edge over the Super Eagles.

The final round will give the final answers on Tuesday.

WC QUALIFICATION AFRICA - MATCHDAY 9

Wednesday

Eswatini - Angola 2-2 (0-0)

/Figuareido 48,54 - Buatu 69, Papel 80/

Ethiopia - Guinea B. 1-0 (1-0)

/James 27/

Libya - Cape Verde 3-3 (2-1)

/Lopes 1 og, Al Mariami 42, Al Shalui 58 - Arcanjo 29, Cabral 76, Semedo 82/

Mauritius - Cameroon 0-2 (0-0)

/Ngameleu 57, Mbeumo 90+2/

Central African Republic - Ghana 0-5 (0-1)

/Salisu 20, Partey 52, Djiku 69, Ayew 71, Sulemana 87/

Chad - Mali 0-2 (0-0)

/Doumbia 19, 74/

Comoros - Madagascar 1-2 (0-1)

/Said 81 - Couturier 11, Raheriniaina 73/

Djibouti - Egypt 0-3 (0-2)

/Adel 8, Salah 14, 84/

Sierra Leone - Burkina Faso 0-1 (0-1)

/Zougrana 42/

Niger - Congo 3-1 (1-0)

/Sosah 45+3, Oumarou 49, Adebayor 67 - Bassinga 90+4/

Tanzania - Zambia 0-1 (0-0)

/Sakala 75/

Thursday

Burundi - Kenya 0-1 (0-0)

/Ogam 72/

Botswana - Uganda 0-1 (0-0)

/Ssemugabi 55/

Liberia - Namibia 3-1 (2-0)

/Kosiah 3 pen, Bah 9, Ledlum 81 - Karuuombe 87/

Malawi - Equatorial Guinea POSTPONED

Mozambique - Guinea 1-2 (1-1)

/Mandava 19 - Traore 2, 59/

Somalia - Algeria 0-3 (0-2)

/Amoura 6, 58, Mahrez 19/

Friday

South Sudan - Senegal 0-5 (0-1)

/Sarr 29, 54, Mane 46, Jackson 60 pen, Ndiaye C. 75/

Gambia - Gabon 3-4 (2-2)

/Minteh 23, Sidibeh 45+2, 47 - Aubameyang 20, 42, 62, 78/

Seychelles - Ivory Coast 0-7 (0-4)

/Sangare 7 pen, Agbadou 17, Diakite 32, Guessand 39, Diomande 55, Adingra 67, Kessie 90/

Sudan - Mauritania 0-0

Togo - DR Congo 0-1 (0-1)

/Bakambu 7/

Lesotho - Nigeria 1-2 (0-0)

/Kalake 83 - Troost-Ekong 55 pen, Adams 80/

Rwanda - Benin 0-1 (0-0)

/Tosin 80/

Sao Tome - Tunisia 0-6 (0-3)

/Chaouat 36, Saad 39, 43, Gharbi 47, Ben Romdhane 68 pen, 90+1/

Zimbabwe - South Africa 0-0