Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong and teammates Wilfred Ndidi, Calvin Bassey, and Terem Moffi are optimistic Nigeria can secure a favourable result when they face Lesotho on Friday at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane.
Nigeria needs a win against their opponents to keep alive faint hopes of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The Super Eagles currently sit third in Group C with 11 points, three behind Benin and South Africa, who occupy first and second place. Their task was slightly eased after Bafana Bafana were docked three points and three goals earlier this year for fielding an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena, against Lesotho.
While Nigeria focuses on getting the job done in Polokwane, they will also be monitoring results in Kigali, where Benin faces Rwanda, and in Durban, where South Africa takes on Zimbabwe.
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Speaking ahead of the match, Troost-Ekong stressed that the team remains determined until the final whistle of the campaign.
“We’re optimistic and we’re always going to fight till the end,” Troost-Ekong said ahead of the game. “We believe and we’re never going to stop believing, two important games, Friday, the first one, and after that we get back to Nigeria. Our focus now is on Lesotho.
“The boys are in camp, focused, and the spirit is high. It’s been the same for us; we have to win this game. We are very optimistic and focused on the game on Friday.”
Assistant captain Wilfred Ndidi also shared similar sentiments, insisting the team must take it one game at a time.
“We know where we are at the moment, and these two games are really crucial, but firstly, we’ll focus on the game against Lesotho before we turn our attention to the one against Benin. What is most important right now is the game against Benin,” the Besiktas midfielder said.
Fulham defender Calvin Bassey admitted the Eagles are in a desperate situation but believes the squad has the experience to handle the pressure.
“The goal is to remain calm and do what we have to do. This is not the first time, club or country, any one of us will be in high-pressure moments. I think we’ve got an experienced team to handle this situation and it’s just about making sure we do everything right.”
OGC Nice forward Terem Moffi, recalled after injury and a dip in form last season, added that confidence remains strong in the camp.
“The guys are really confident about qualifying for the World Cup. We have to do our part and wait for the results of the other teams and hope things go our way.”
Nigeria’s qualification chances hinge on winning their final two matches convincingly and hoping both Benin and South Africa drop points.
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