Super Eagles will be making a sensational return to Lagos after 20 years of absence as the team host the Crocodile of Lesotho in a dead-rubber 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at the Teslim Balogun Stadium today (Tuesday).
But for Covid-19, the stadium would have witnessed a full capacity crowd. Albeit, 10,000 die-hard Super Eagles fans will be on ground to cheer the team to victory.
Nigeria are unbeaten in Group L, winning three and drawing two of their five matches to collect 11 points, which has left them four points clear of second-placed Benin and seven clear of Sierra Leone in third.
The last time the Super Eagles confronted Lesotho, the team won by 4-2 at the Setsoto Stadium thanks to goals from Alex Iwobi, Victor Osimhen and Villarreal’s Samuel Chukwueze.
Gernot Rohr’s side actually went on a four-game winless run in all competitions between October 9 and November 17, 2020, but a 1-0 success over Benin on Saturday secured their spot in the AFCON finals.
Nigeria, who have also been present in each of the last three World Cups, will be bidding to finish their Group L campaign with a victory, and they will be a team to watch in the competition, which starts in January 2022.
Lesotho, meanwhile, have never qualified for the finals of an Africa Cup of Nations tournament, and they will also not be present in next year’s competition, which is not a surprise.
The Crocodiles are without a victory in any competition since August 2019, but they have only lost two of their five matches in this section, picking up three points, meaning that third position is still open in Group L.
The team ranked 143rd in the world by FIFA is mainly made up of players from the Lesotho Premier League, but they will not provide straightforward opposition for Nigeria in this game.
Match Details
The match will be played at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos. Kickoff time is 5 pm Nigerian time.
Local stations NTA and AIT are expected to broadcast the game live.
By Augustine Akhilomen
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Meanwhile Alex Iwobi has been tested covid19 negative a recent tweet by NFF confirms… Benin bin wan run us street…. Lolz