Africa’s top footballers of the past two years, Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman, will spearhead Nigeria’s quest for a vital victory when the Super Eagles face the Crocodiles of Lesotho in a crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium on Friday evening.

The encounter is the penultimate matchday in the qualification series, and Nigeria are in must-win mode as they look to stay within reach of group leaders Benin Republic and second-placed South Africa.

Currently three points adrift of the top two, the Super Eagles must secure all three points in Polokwane — a neutral ground fixture — and hope for favourable results elsewhere before rounding off their campaign at home to Benin Republic next week at Uyo’s Godswill Akpabio International Stadium.

Head Coach Eric Chelle faces a selection dilemma following a string of injuries to key players. Wing-back Olaoluwa Aina remains sidelined after sustaining a knock on the poor pitch of the Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein, during the clash with Bafana Bafana last month. Also unavailable are Bright Osayi-Samuel, Raphael Onyedika, and forward Cyriel Dessers, all ruled out through injury.

However, Chelle will be buoyed by the return of Victor Osimhen, who missed the South Africa tie due to a muscular strain picked up against Rwanda in Uyo. The Napoli striker rejoins the dynamic attacking trio completed by Ademola Lookman and Moses Simon, whose exploits at the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year remain fresh in the minds of fans.

In goal, Stanley Nwabali is expected to retain his starting role after a series of solid displays, while team captain William Troost-Ekong, Calvin Bassey, Bruno Onyemaechi, Semi Ajayi, Zaidu Sanusi, and Benjamin Frederick are all in contention for defensive duties.

The midfield options offer Chelle both creativity and steel, with Alex Iwobi, Wilfred Ndidi, Frank Onyeka, Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi, and Christantus Uche vying for starting spots.

Up front, beyond the Osimhen-Lookman-Simon trio, the coach has several in-form alternatives including Samuel Chukwueze, Tolu Arokodare, Terem Moffi, and Jerome Akor Adams, all of whom have been impressive for their clubs in recent weeks.

With Lesotho already out of contention, Nigeria are expected to dominate possession and press for an early breakthrough. The Super Eagles will also be keen to avoid the kind of dropped points that have haunted their campaign so far.

A win in Polokwane would lift Chelle’s side within striking distance of qualification and set up a high-stakes finale in Uyo.

21 SUPER EAGLES TO BATTLE LESOTHO IN POLOKWANE

Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars, Tanzania); Adeleye Adebayo (Volos FC, Greece)

Defenders: William Ekong (Al-Kholood, Saudi Arabia); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (Hull City, England); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal); Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiakos, Greece); Benjamin Fredericks (Dender FC, Belgium)

Midfielders: Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi (New England Revolution, USA); Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas FC, Turkey); Christantus Uche (Crystal Palace, England)

Forwards: Ademola Lookman (Atalanta BC, Italy); Samuel Chukwueze (Fulham FC, England); Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray FC, Turkey); Simon Moses (Paris FC, France); Tolu Arokodare (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England); Terem Moffi (OGC Nice, France); Jerome Akor Adams (Sevilla FC, Spain)

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Sudan Football Association vice president Yasser Nasreddin Hamza Al-Samani has been banned from their next 15 competitive matches for assaulting a match official at a World Cup qualifier last month, world football’s governing body FIFA said.

The incident came after Sudan had lost 1-0 in Lome to Togo, effectively ending their 2026 World Cup hopes.

Sudan’s assistant coach Ignatius Osei-Fosu, who is from Ghana, was also handed a three-match ban for what FIFA said was “unsporting behaviour towards a match officials”. The referees for the game on September 9 came from Madagascar.

Both men were also fined CHF5,000 ($6,214).

-Reuters

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FIFA president Gianni Infantino wants football to keep an “open mind” about when World Cups are played as the global soccer body grapples with climate and calendar challenges for the tournament.

The World Cup is usually held in June-July when most leagues in the northern hemisphere have their off-seasons, but the 2022 edition in Qatar broke with convention by taking place in November-December to avoid the desert nation’s scorching heat.

Any major changes remain distant possibilities with FIFA’s International Match Calendar (IMC) fixed until 2030, but Saudi Arabia is set to host the 2034 tournament, becoming the second nation from the Middle East to do so.

“It’s not just about one World Cup, it’s a general reflection. Even to play in some European countries in July is very, very hot, so maybe we have to think,” Infantino said at the European Football Clubs’ general assembly in Rome.

“We have summer and winter and in the world, if you want to play at the same time everywhere, you can play in March or in October. In December you cannot play in one part of the world and in July you cannot play in another part.

“We need to consider all these elements and let’s see how we can make it better for everyone. Maybe there are ways we can optimise the calendar. We are discussing, we have to have an open mind.”

The United States, Canada and Mexico will host next year’s men’s World Cup in the traditional June-July window, although a report found 10 of the 16 venues are at very high risk of experiencing extreme heat stress conditions.

The 2030 tournament — also in June-July — presents a logistical challenge, with Morocco, Portugal and Spain as primary hosts while Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay will hold matches to mark 100 years since the first World Cup in Uruguay.

-Reuters

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