Super Eagles captain, William Troost-Ekong, has delivered a bold and defiant message to Nigeria’s Group C rivals, South Africa and Benin Republic, following the Super Eagles’ hard-fought 2-1 victory over Lesotho in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. The victory, which was crucial for Nigeria’s qualification campaign, took place on Friday night in Polokwane.
Troost-Ekong, who was among the goalscorers in the match, took to social media shortly after the game to express his unwavering belief in Nigeria’s chances of qualification. In a succinct post on X (formerly Twitter), the centre-back confidently wrote, “It ain’t over till it’s over.”
The message echoed the Super Eagles’ firm belief in their World Cup aspirations, despite their current position in Group C. With 14 points, Nigeria currently sits third, trailing behind Benin Republic and South Africa.
Troost-Ekong gave Nigeria the perfect start in the 55th minute by converting a penalty after a handball was committed in the Lesotho penalty box. The penalty strike sent Nigerian fans into jubilant celebrations, giving the Super Eagles a crucial 1-0 lead.
Akor Adams doubled Nigeria’s advantage in the 80th minute with a clinical finish, seemingly putting Nigeria in full control of the match. However, Lesotho responded just minutes later, with Kalake scoring in the 83rd minute to bring the score to 2-1, keeping the match tense until the final whistle.
Despite the late goal from Lesotho, the Super Eagles held on to secure the vital three points, which keep their World Cup hopes alive.
However, Benin Republic, who also secured a victory in their own fixture, remains firmly in control of the group standings. With just one match left to play, Nigeria’s fate now depends on a combination of results. Benin currently leads the group with 17 points, followed by South Africa with 15, while Nigeria sits third with 14 points.
To secure automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup, Nigeria must defeat Benin Republic by at least two goals in their final group match. Additionally, the Super Eagles will need South Africa to drop points in their fixture against Rwanda.
