The race to next year’s FIFA World Cup finals in North America will go right down to the wire after Nigeria defeated Lesotho 2-1 in Polokwane on Friday, and South Africa were held to a scoreless draw by Zimbabwe in Durban while Benin Republic pipped hosts Rwanda 1-0 in Kigali.
All three teams retained the position they were in Group C before kick-off of their matches, but third-placed Nigeria, on 14 points, will host table-toppers Benin Republic in Uyo on Tuesday while South Africa have their work cut out against Rwanda’s Amavubi.
Nigeria began Friday evening’s game with all the urgency needed, but Tolu Arokodare saw his header rise above the sticks in the 12th minute, while the Crocodiles’ goalkeeper punched the ball away just as Arokodare was set to head from Ademola Lookman’s cross in the 33rd minute.
Three minutes later, Victor Osimhen saw his header saved, and in added time of the first half, Arokodare saw the ball fly away from goal after he headed a pullout.
Nine minutes into the second half, a defender blocked the ball with his hands as Simon Moses let fly, and Chadian referee Mahamat Allaoui pointed to the spot. Captain William Ekong made no mistake, giving Nigeria the lead.
Nigeria came close in succession from shots by Alex Iwobi in the 57th and 59th minutes, and Osimhen’s chip that hit the upright in the 62nd minute. In the 79th minute, Osimhen’s deflected shot saw the ball strike the upright again, but the 2023 Africa Player of the Year found the right formula with 10 minutes to go, as his pass located debutant Jerome Akor Adams, who turned a defender before firing into the net for Nigeria’s second of the day.
Lesotho’s Kalake pulled one back from a corner kick in the 83rd minute, but the Super Eagles held on to cling to 14 points ahead of the final Matchday on Tuesday.
A win against the Cheetahs of Benin Republic in Uyo on Tuesday, and failure by South Africa to beat Rwanda, will see the Super Eagles top the group and qualify automatically to the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals to be hosted by USA, Canada and Mexico.
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