Forward Akor Adams made his long-awaited Super Eagles debut in a 2-1 victory over Lesotho in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier at the Peter Mokaba Stadium.
The striker’s 80th-minute strike sealed three precious points for Nigeria as the team continue its chase for a spot in the expanded 48-team tournament in North America.
The 25-year-old, whose journey from a local academy in Nigeria to La Liga has captivated fans, entered the match as a second-half substitute and delivered a moment of magic that could prove a turning point for the Super Eagles.
With Nigeria third in Group C with 11 points before the game, the win—coupled with South Africa’s 0-0 draw with Zimbabwe—boosted their qualification hopes, narrowing the gap to second-placed Bafana Bafana to just one point.
Under the floodlights in Polokwane, the Super Eagles dominated the early proceedings but struggled to convert their superiority into goals, heading into the break goalless.
The deadlock was broken ten minutes into the second half when captain William Troost-Ekong slotted a penalty past Moerane to give Nigeria a 1-0 lead.
With the game still in the balance, head coach Eric Chelle turned to his bench, introducing Adams for Tolu Arokodare in the 62nd minute.
The forward, fresh off scoring in consecutive La Liga matches—including a 4-1 rout of Barcelona—wasted no time making an impact.
In the 80th minute, Victor Osimhen held up play before slipping a pinpoint pass to Adams.
The debutant then dribbled past a defender with quick footwork before firing a clinical, low-driven shot into the bottom corner, beating goalkeeper Sekhoane Moerane.
At 2-0, Nigeria seemed poised to cruise to victory, but Lesotho had other ideas. The hosts pulled one back following a goalkeeping blunder from Stanley Nwabali.
The closing stages were tense, with another Nwabali error almost gifting Lesotho an equalizer.
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Post-match, Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle was full of praise for his team and Akor Adams, whose goal made him the latest in a storied line of debut scorers for Nigeria — alongside icons like Obafemi Martins and Julius Aghahowa.
The victory lifts Nigeria to 14 points in Group C, one behind South Africa and three behind leaders Benin, whom they face in a pivotal clash in Uyo on Tuesday.
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