Coach Thabo Senong is confident that if his Lesotho lads can tame two of the Super Eagles’ finest stars, then the home side can avoid defeat when the two teams trade tackles later on Sunday.
Nigeria are set to face Lesotho in a 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at the Setsoto Stadium in Maseru looking for all three points at stake.
Second placed Lesotho are in confident mode after picking a valuable point in a 1-1 draw with Sierra Leone on match day 1 but face a difficult task when Gernot Rohr’s side – who are top of Group L with three points – file out out with all their star quality on full parade.
Nigeria’s three points came from a hard-fought 2-1 win against Benin Republic at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Wednesday, with both goals scored by Lille’s Victor Osimhen and Bordeaux’s Samuel Kalu. Nigeria also boast the talents of Villarreal’s Samuel Chukwueze and Everton’s Alex Iwobi.
However, Lesotho’s coach Thabo Senong – who will be without the suspended captain Marepe Basia due to his dismissal against Sierra Leone – is having sleepless nights over how to cage the duo of Osimhen and Rangers star Joe Aribo in particular.
“Nigeria have very physical and skilful players,” Thabo Senong said.
“Osimhen and Aribo have done well at their clubs. Everyone knows them, they are very dangerous. We have to put an eye on them.”
Super Eagles skipper, Ahmed Musa, is aware however that the greatest challenge the Nigeria side will face in Maseru is complacency and not the world’s 138th-ranked home side.
“Lesotho are not one of the biggest names in world football, but we won’t take them for granted,” the Al Nassr of Saudi Arabia forward told reporters.
“They will enjoy the support of their home fans and be pumped up to beat us.
“We have what it takes to beat them and will go all out to maintain top position in the group.”