Lesotho vs Nigeria Preview: Crocodiles Chase History, Ambush Eagles In Maseru

The landlocked Kingdom encircled completely by South Africa have never defeated Nigeria in a competitive fixture and will look to change that bit of history when the two countries square up at the Setsoto Stadium in the capital city of Maseru.

Three precious points are at stake when the Super Eagles fly into the den of the Crocodiles in a 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on Sunday.

Lesotho ranked 138 in the world by FIFA, are the huge underdogs despite playing in front of their home fans but having lost two out of two matches against the three time African champions will know that victory won’t come cheap.

Thabo Senong’s men are a decent side who are rarely at the end of huge defeats – losing just one of their last five games – but they appear to lack the quality to turn draws to wins with each of their last three games ending in stalemates.

Their last draw, though, would expectedly be a pleasing and confidence-boosting one considering that it earned the Crocodiles – who ended the game with 10 men following the dismissal of captain Marepe Basia – a vital point in a 1-1 draw at Sierra Leone on matchday 1. Coach Thabo Senong would be eyeing and working towards victory in this fixture, however.

But beating Gernot Rohr’s side is not an easy task these days with both Ukraine and five-time world champions Brazil finding the Super Eagles a stubborn customer to thrash.

And the manner with which the West Africans battled back from an early setback to claim a hard-fought 2-1 win against Benin Republic on matchday 1 should fill Victor Osimhen and co with the momentum needed to power past any handicapped hosts.

Head-to-head

Nigeria have never lost to their opponents since meeting for the first time in 2006 during the 2008 AFCON qualifiers.

The Super Eagles eked out a narrow 1-0 win at this same ground in 2006 and nearly a year after humbled the Crocodiles 2-0 in the return leg in Abuja with Ike Uche and Ayodele Makinwa on target on the day.

Team News

Lesotho

Lesotho will be forced into at least one change to their starting XI with captain Marepe Basia suspended for this game due to his dismissal against Sierra Leone.

Nigeria

Captain Ahmed Musa started from the bench against Benin on Wednesday but can feature from kickoff against Lesotho if coach Gernot Rohr decides to rest Samuel Chukwueze who had a rather subdued display.

Prediction

Nigeria are the heavy favourites and the reason is not so far-fetched, as the 2013 African champions sit 103 places above the Crocodiles on the World Fifa Rankings, with the Super Eagles occupying 35th spot while Thabo Senong’s men are placed 138th.

Lesotho will expectedly borrow a leaf from the Benin playbook and look to keep things tight while looking to catch the visitors out on the break. The Super Eagles quality should see them nick a goal or two, though.

Betting Tip: Nigeria to win and Under 2.5 goals