When Nigeria plays their home game against Lesotho at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium on Thursday (today), they will be missing the trio of Victor Osimhen, Samuel Chukwueze, and Wilfred Ndidi as they open their 2026 World Cup qualification campaign.

After playing a goalless draw away from home against Ghana, the three-time African champions were unable to advance to the most recent World Cup in Qatar, drawing 1-1 at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.

Having qualified for six of the last eight tournaments since their debut World Cup appearance in 1994, the Eagles have only missed the 2006 and 2022 editions of the Mundial in their history of World Cup qualifying.

Despite being favourites heading into this fixture, the Eagles will not only aim to get the better of the Crocodiles in this encounter but also to pick the ticket to the Mundial ahead of South Africa, Benin Republic, Rwanda and Lesotho.

The Eagles, who are currently on a five-game winning streak, will be counting on the prolific play of Taiwo Awoniyi, Victor Boniface, Kelechi Iheanacho, and Terem Moffi to get their qualification campaign off to a winning start after Rwanda and Zimbabwe drew goalless on Wednesday.

Before the game, Lesotho coach Leslie Notsi expressed optimism that his team could lessen the pressure from the Eagles and their supporters in Uyo.

“As a young football nation, we are taking advantage of this opportunity to gain exposure and experience, and we anticipate a tough match,” Notsi stated.

We have young and talented players who are eager to learn and grow so we are here to honour the fixture with a competitive mindset.

“Most of the players we have are from our developmental teams and I must also give credit to our league which has enabled us national team coaches to pick easily. We are coming here to take the opportunity of playing one of the best teams on the continent.

“We know the support will be there, and we will see how we perform under tremendous pressure because I think that will be a sign of how we have improved. We know it’s going to be tough but we will play our best.”

Also reacting to the game, midfielder, Raphael Onyedika says the encounter is a ‘must win match’ for the Eagles.

The 22-year-old Club Brugge of Belgium midfielder who looks set to make his fourth appearance for the Eagles said, “It was a good (training) session. It’s nice to be back and we’re looking forward to the game against Lesotho”

“It’s a must win game,” he told reporters after Wednesday’s training.

“We must put all our efforts together to win the game because our fans and every Nigerian is getting on us, supporting us to win. So, we need to put all our efforts to win the game and get the three points.”

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