Lesotho vs Nigeria live: Super Eagles desperate to keep their World Cup 2026 qualifying hopes alive | OneFootball

Nigeria’s are running out of time to turn their World Cup 2026 qualification campaign around as they face Lesotho in a must-win penultimate match.

The Super Eagles currently sit third in Group C, with only top spot guaranteeing participation in the United States, Canada and Mexico next year. The four best second-place teams will then enter the ever-dangerous play-offs vying to qualify.

Placed three points behind Benin and South Africa in the two spots above them, Eric Chelle’s side will feel they need six points from six to give them any hope of either outcome, though their chances were recently boosted when Bafana Bafana were docked three points for fielding an ineligible player earlier in qualifying.

Lesotho will meanwhile look to cause an upset and effectively end Nigeria’s hopes of qualification by keeping their own World Cup dreams alive, with it still mathematically possible that the enclaved country can close the five-point gap between themselves and the top two.

World Cup 2026: Who is through and how does qualifying work?

Africa

Qualifying places available: Nine, plus one into intercontinental play-offs

Teams already qualified: Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria

Qualification among Caf nations takes places across nine groups that consist of six teams each. Each group winners takes one of the nine available places.

The process began in November 2023, with the final group fixtures taking place this month. Cape Verde are just one win away from a historic qualification spot.

The best four runners-up enter a play-off, with the play-off winners then entering the intercontinental play-offs.