Lesotho stunned Nigeria’s Super Eagles in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification opener, drawing 1-1 at Uyo
Super Eagles’ head coach, Jose Peseiro, expressed disappointment after a 1-1 draw against Lesotho in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, attributing the result to unfortunate circumstances, Soccernet.ng reports.
Despite being the favourites, Nigeria faced a resilient Lesotho side that put up a commendable performance, frustrating the home team.
The Super Eagles struggled to convert the chances they created during the game, allowing the Southern Africans to take the lead in the 56th minute before Semi Ajayi levelled the scoreline for the home side.
Key chances included Leicester City’s Kelechi Iheanacho’s free-kick saved in the first half and his near miss, striking the woodwork in the second half.
Additionally, Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman missed a significant opportunity which could have put Jose Peseiro’s men in front, before halftime.
Reflecting on the match, Peseiro acknowledged his team’s dominance, possessing the ball for 76% of the game against Lesotho’s 24%.
“We had 76% of the ball possession against 24%, the opponents only had two chances to score and scored a goal,” he told the media.
However, he highlighted that Lesotho capitalised on one of their limited chances while Nigeria struggled to convert several opportunities, labelling it an unfortunate day for his side.
He added: “We had many chances to score. It was bad luck.”
The Super Eagles will regroup for their upcoming match against Zimbabwe on Sunday, aiming to turn the tide and secure a much-needed victory.
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