Few fixtures carry more urgency than this, and within the Super Eagles World Cup qualifier preparations the mood in Polokwane blends focus with quiet resolve as Nigeria gear up to face Lesotho. The setting is familiar, the Peter Mokaba Stadium in South Africa, and the stakes are unmistakable for a team desperate to turn promise into points.
The calendar offers no hiding place. Kickoff is set for Friday, October 10, at 5 p.m. Nigeria time, a primetime window that will bring a nation to a standstill. The reverse meeting in Uyo finished 1-1, a sobering reminder that reputation counts for little once the whistle blows.
What is at stake in Group C
Nigeria sit third in Group C on 11 points from eight matches, with 2 wins, 5 draws and 1 loss. That record tells a story of narrow margins, including a 1-1 result against South Africa in their last outing, and it underlines why a result in Polokwane could be season defining.
Lesotho occupy fifth with 9 points from eight matches, with 2 wins, 3 draws and 3 losses, their tally boosted by a controversial 3-0 walkover awarded against South Africa for fielding an ineligible player. They are still alive, and that combination of belief and organization demands respect from the visitors.
For Nigeria, anything short of victory could be costly according to the mood around camp, with two matches left on the slate. The message has been consistent, win in Polokwane and again at home to the Benin Republic to keep the dream burning, a simple equation that clarifies the stakes for a proud squad.
Kickoff and how to watch
- Venue and time – Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, Friday October 10 2025, 5 p.m. Nigeria time,
- Broadcast – DSTV Supersport and StarTimes available, Sporty TV and FIFA Plus provide streaming,
- International availability – beIN SPORTS carries the match.
Nigeria camp notes and likely lineup
Preparation has been deliberate and centralized, as the Super Eagles opened camp in Polokwane on Monday with 17 players initially present. Head coach Eric Chelle set an assertive tone with a forward heavy 23 man list for this window, and the plan is to attack the game from the first minute.
Victor Osimhen is expected to lead the line, fresh from a strong run of club form, with Ademola Lookman and Moses Simon providing width and penetration. Alex Iwobi is slated for the creative hub, a role that asks him to find spaces between the lines and release the runners with timing and conviction, a task that could be the difference maker in a tight game.
In midfield, Wilfred Ndidi and Frank Onyeka are the platform, a pairing built to win second balls and initiate transitions. Their ability to control tempo will be critical against a Lesotho team that is comfortable sitting compact and springing forward when the moment arrives.
The back line carries both leadership and edge, with captain William Troost Ekong likely to partner Calvin Bassey centrally. With Bright Osayi Samuel absent, Sodiq Fredrick is in line for a first competitive start at right back, while Bruno Onyemaechi is set to continue at left back and Stanley Nwabali is expected to start in goal.
Nigeria’s possible shape offers clarity, Nwabali, Fredrick, Troost Ekong, Bassey, Onyemaechi, Onyeka, Ndidi, Iwobi, Lookman, Simon, Osimhen. It is a unit that can dominate territory if the press is synchronized and the lines stay compact between midfield and defense.
Lesotho camp and threat profile
Lesotho’s preparation has been crisp and punctual, with all 23 invited players in camp in Polokwane under head coach Leslie Notsi. Their first official session took place on Wednesday at the match venue, a valuable chance to acclimatize to the surface and dimensions while sharpening set plays.
Key domestic influences are present, including South Africa based figures like captain Sekhoane Moerane, Thabo Makhele and Motebang Sera who all featured in the PSL over the weekend. This continuity helps bind club rhythm to national duty, an intangible that often shows in compact team structures and collective discipline.
Production has been spread across the squad, with Motlomelo Mkwanazi, Lehlohonolo Fothoane, Rethabile Rasethuntsa and Jane Thabantso all on the qualifiers scoresheet. Goalkeeper Sekhoane Moerane is expected to be busy against Nigeria’s attack, and Sera Motebang will be hungry to break his drought against the Super Eagles, a subplot that brings added edge for the home crowd in Polokwane.
Tactical themes to watch
There are familiar checkpoints for Nigeria. The first is control in midfield, where Ndidi and Onyeka must funnel play and spring Iwobi into pockets. If the ball reaches Lookman and Simon early and in stride, Osimhen becomes the penalty box force around whom the entire structure pivots, a classic Nigerian rhythm that often bends opponents backward.
The second theme is transition defending. Lesotho earned that 1-1 in Uyo with patience and work rate, qualities that punish any lapse in rest defense. Nigeria’s full backs must manage the balance between joining attacks and leaving coverage, since overcommitting could invite the very counters Lesotho seek.
Set pieces remain a swing factor in qualifiers. Troost Ekong and Bassey can dominate aerially, but the delivery must be precise to translate pressure into chances. At the other end, concentration on second balls is non negotiable, a detail that could decide momentum either way.
Psychology and momentum
The psychological picture is as compelling as the tactical map. A photograph of Osimhen in training caused a ripple of concern among Galatasaray supporters, yet his expected involvement and recent form provide calm within the Nigerian camp, the sort of presence that steadies teammates and unsettles opponents.
Elsewhere in the region, Ghana’s emphatic 5-0 win over the Central African Republic has already secured their place, a result that sharpened Nigeria’s focus by highlighting how narrow the margin for error has become. For the Super Eagles, the response is simple, channel urgency into execution, keep belief, and finish chances when they arrive.
What a result would mean
For Nigeria, three points would transform the narrative and keep the runway open heading into the final matchday. The directive is clear from within the setup, take maximum points in Polokwane and then finish the job at home to Benin Republic, a line of sight that demands both patience and precision.
For Lesotho, a positive result would preserve hope and validate the work done in camp under Leslie Notsi. Their nine point platform, aided by the FIFA walkover, places them within striking distance, and that proximity often breeds the resilience and belief needed for upsets in qualifiers.
Key numbers at a glance
- Nigeria in Group C – third with 11 points after eight matches,
- Lesotho in Group C – fifth with 9 points after eight matches,
- Reverse fixture – 1-1 draw in Uyo last year.
Final word on expectations
On paper Nigeria have the edge, with star power up front and a spine designed for control. In practice, the lesson from Uyo lingers, underestimate this compact Lesotho side at your peril, a truth that should keep the Super Eagles sharp from minute one to ninety.
Friday in Polokwane offers a stage and a reckoning. If the press is coordinated, if Iwobi knits the thirds, and if Osimhen and Lookman find the spaces they crave, Nigeria will tilt the field, a performance that could reignite a campaign and stir a nation.
