Nigeria’s Osimhen and Lookman spearhead Super Eagles’ 21-man squad as they face Lesotho in crucial World Cup qualifier.

Africa’s best players in the past two years, Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman, will lead Nigeria’s charge for crucial three points when the Super Eagles go up against the Crocodiles of Lesotho in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium in the South African city of Polokwane on Friday evening.

The clash is the penultimate matchday of the series, with Nigeria needing all three points and favour from elsewhere to stand in good stead heading into the final matchday, when they host present group leaders Benin Republic at Uyo’s Godswill Akpabio Stadium.

With three points off first-placed Benin Republic and second-placed South Africa, Nigeria must go guns-blazing for their remaining two games, starting with the encounter with the Crocodiles on neutral ground on Friday.

Coach Eric Chelle has been unable to call on wing-back Olaoluwa Aina, injured on an atrocious Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein pitch in the clash with South Africa’s Bafana Bafana last month, and defender Bright Osayi-Samuel, midfielder Raphael Onyedika and forward Cyriel Dessers are also out injured.

However, Chelle welcomes back Osimhen (who missed the clash with the Bafana after sustaining an injury against Rwanda in Uyo days earlier), and the triumvirate that shone brightly at last year’s Africa Cup of Nations (the others being Ademola Lookman and Simon Moses) is intact for this big challenge.

Goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali is most likely to retain his place in goal, with Captain William Ekong, Calvin Bassey, Bruno Onyemaechi, Semi Ajayi, Zaidu Sanusi and Benjamin Frederick all in line for shirts in the defenceline, and Alex Iwobi, Wilfred Ndidi, Frank Onyeka, Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi and Christantus Uche available for selection in midfield.

Osimhen, Lookman and Moses are top picks for the forward line, but Chelle also has Samuel Chukwueze, Tolu Arokodare, Terem Moffi and Jerome Akor Adams all in good form.

21 SUPER EAGLES TO BATTLE LESOTHO IN POLOKWANE

Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars, Tanzania); Adeleye Adebayo (Volos FC, Greece)

Defenders: William Ekong (Al-Kholood, Saudi Arabia); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (Hull City, England); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal); Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiakos, Greece); Benjamin Fredericks (Dender FC, Belgium)

Midfielders: Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi (New England Revolution, USA); Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas FC, Turkey); Christantus Uche (Crystal Palace, England)

Forwards: Ademola Lookman (Atalanta BC, Italy); Samuel Chukwueze (Fulham FC, England); Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray FC, Turkey); Simon Moses (Paris FC, France); Tolu Arokodare (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England); Terem Moffi (OGC Nice, France); Jerome Akor Adams (Sevilla FC, Spain). (AriseNews TV)