Super Eagles Storm South Africa For Must-Win World Cup Clash Against Lesotho

According to Ireporter Online, the Super Eagles of Nigeria have arrived in Polokwane, South Africa, ahead of their crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Lesotho scheduled for Friday. The team’s media officer, Promise Efoghe, confirmed that the camp officially opened on Monday at The Ranch Hotel, with the technical crew and support staff already in place under the leadership of head coach Eric Chelle. Players have been arriving in batches from their various clubs through Johannesburg.

Training sessions are expected to commence later today as the Super Eagles intensify preparations for the highly anticipated encounter with the Crocodiles at the Peter Mokaba Stadium. Assistant coach Daniel Ogunmodede is also set to join the squad after leading Remo Stars to a 2–0 victory over Wikki Tourists in a Nigeria Premier Football League fixture on Monday.

Lesotho will host the match in South Africa due to the unavailability of a FIFA or CAF-approved stadium in their home country. Their local arenas have consistently failed to meet international standards because of poor pitch conditions and inadequate facilities, compelling the team to adopt South African venues for their home fixtures.

The upcoming match holds significant importance for the Super Eagles, who currently occupy fourth place in their qualification group with 11 points from eight games. The group’s standings were recently altered after FIFA awarded Lesotho a 3–0 win against South Africa, following a protest that the latter fielded an ineligible player in their March encounter. The decision reduced South Africa’s points tally, leaving them level with Benin on 14 points, while Nigeria and Rwanda trail closely with 11 points, and Lesotho follow with nine.

A victory on Friday would be a major boost for Nigeria, potentially propelling them closer to the top of the group and enhancing their chances of securing a ticket to the 2026 World Cup. The match is slated to kick off at 4 p.m. Nigerian time at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane.