Lesotho vs Nigeria Preview – Match Preview
Lesotho are currently fifth in Group D going into their second last World Cup qualifying match. They have won two, drawn three and lost three games so far.
They can no longer qualify, but overall it has been a decent campaign for them. However, their last two matches in September were poor — they lost 3-0 to South Africa and 4-0 to Benin. Until then, it looked like Lesotho might even fight for a top-two finish.
Nigeria, on the other hand, are under pressure. They sit third with 11 points, three behind South Africa and Benin. Anything less than a win against Lesotho could be very costly.
The Super Eagles will take some comfort from the fact that South Africa were recently docked three points; otherwise, Nigeria would have been six points behind.
Nigeria beat Rwanda 1-0 at home in September and then drew 1-1 away in South Africa. A win here would keep their World Cup hopes alive and set up a crucial final match against Benin next week.
Match Details
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Match | Lesotho vs Nigeria |
| Competition | FIFA World Cup Qualifiers |
| Date (Today) | 10 Oct 2025 |
| Kick-off | 9:30 PM IST ( 16:00 UTC) |
| Venue | Peter Mokaba Stadium |
| City | Polokwane, South Africa |
Head-to-Head Stats
| Match Player | Lesotho Win | Nigeria Win | Draw |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Lesotho vs Nigeria – last 5 head-to-head encounters
| Date | Competition | Home | Score | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Nov 2023 | FIFA World Cup Qualifiers | Nigeria | 1–1 | Lesotho |
| 30 Mar 2021 | Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers | Nigeria | 3–0 | Lesotho |
| 18 Nov 2019 | Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers | Lesotho | 2–4 | Nigeria |
| 8 Sep 2007 | Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers | Nigeria | 2–0 | Lesotho |
| 8 Oct 2006 | Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers | Lesotho | 0–1 | Nigeria |
Lesotho – last 5 Matches
| Date | Competition | Home | Score | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 09 Sep 2025 | FIFA World Cup Qualifiers | Benin | 4-0 | Lesotho |
| 05 Sep 2025 | FIFA World Cup Qualifiers | Lesotho | 0-3 | South Africa |
| 10 Jun 2025 | COSAFA Cup | Namibia | 3-0 | Lesotho |
| 08 Jun 2025 | COSAFA Cup | Angola | 4-0 | Lesotho |
| 05 Jun 2025 | COSAFA Cup | Malawi | 0-1 | Lesotho |
Nigeria – last 5 Matches
| Date | Competition | Home | Score | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 06 Sep 2025 | World Cup Qualifiers (CAF) | Nigeria | 1-0 | Rwanda |
| 19 Aug 2025 | Friendlies / International | Nigeria | 2-0 | Congo |
| 12 Aug 2025 | Friendlies / International | Sudan | 4-0 | Nigeria |
| 05 Aug 2025 | Friendlies / International | Senegal | 1-0 | Nigeria |
| 06 Jun 2025 | Friendlies / International | Russia | 1-1 | Nigeria |
Lesotho vs Nigeria Team Comparison
| Team | Pos | Played | W-D-L | Points | Goals Scored | Goals Conceded | Goal Diff | Form (Last 5) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lesotho | 5th | 8 | 2-3-3 | 9 | 6 | 11 | -5 | L, L, L, L, W |
| Nigeria | 3rd | 8 | 2-5-1 | 11 | 10 | 6 | +4 | D, W, D, W, W |
Lesotho vs Nigeria: Team strengths vs risks
| Team | Strengths | Risks |
|---|---|---|
| Lesotho | Well-organized defense, teamwork, good set-piece ability, players press hard in short bursts | Limited attacking options, weak against sustained pressure, small squad depth, rely on few key players |
| Nigeria | Strong attacking players (Osimhen, Lookman), squad depth, experience, ability to punish mistakes | Defensive injuries, inconsistent midfield control, can struggle under pressure |
Lesotho vs Nigeria Team News & Lineup
Lesotho (4-2-3-1):
Sekhoane Moerane, Thabo Matlabe, Mpho Makhele, Motlomelo Mkwanazi, Mothusi Malane, Mothobi Toloane, Lehlohonolo Fothoane, Teboho Mokhachane, Moses Makhetha, Tumelo Sera, Tshepo Bereng
Team news:
Goalkeeper and captain Lukas Hradecky is sidelined due to injury. Midfielder Roman Eremenko is also unavailable for selection.
Nigeria (4-2-3-1):
Francis Uzoho, Ola Aina, Semi Ajayi, Calvin Bassey, Chidozie Awaziem, Wilfred Ndidi, Alex Iwobi, Alhassan Yusuf, Moses Simon, Victor Osimhen, Terem Moffi
Team news:
Head coach Éric Sékou Chelle has named a 23-man squad for the October qualifiers. Notable inclusions are Terem Moffi, Alhassan Yusuf, and Olakunle Olusegun, while Akor Adams earns his first call-up.
Lesotho vs Nigeria Match Prediction
Nigeria are expected to win comfortably against Lesotho. My predicted score is 3-0, and they should easily cover a -2 handicap.
| Market Result + BTTS | Pick | Why | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Match Result + BTTS | Nigeria Win & BTTS: Yes | Nigeria has strong attacking players, and Lesotho may concede goals. | ★★★★☆ |
| Clean Sheet | Nigeria clean sheet – No | Lesotho may score, but Nigeria’s defense is usually solid. | ★★★☆☆ |
| HT/FT | Draw / Nigeria | Lesotho may hold off in the first half, but Nigeria will likely dominate in the second. | ★★★☆☆ |
| Total Goals (safer) | Over 2.5 | Both teams are capable of scoring, with Nigeria having the upper hand. | ★★★★☆ |
| Exact Margin (long shot) | Nigeria by 2 goals (2-0) | Nigeria should edge out with a comfortable win. | ★★★☆☆ |
