Nigeria v Lesotho LIVE UPDATES: Super Eagles eye grand finish in Lagos

Sixteen months after filing out for their first game in this Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying series, the Super Eagles are set for their last game and it is against the Crocodiles of Lesotho against whom they have a great head-to-head record.

Though the game is a dead rubber as the Super Eagles have long qualified for the showpiece event in Cameroon, there is so much fanfare around Tuesday’s tie as it marks the return of the national team to Lagos after a long while.

This is actually the Super Eagles’ first competitive game in Lagos in two decades and the expectation is that Gernot Rohr’s men will deliver goals to the fans.

In the reverse fixture between Nigeria and Lesotho, the Super Eagles won 4-2 and the firepower in the team should make it a double.

In the five games played in the qualifiers so far, the Super Eagles won three and drew twice.

Stay with PREMIUM TIMES for Live Updates.

The kick-off time is 5.00 pm.

Nigeria Line Up…

Super Eagles XI Vs Lesotho: Francis Uzoho, Tyrone Ebuehi, Zaidu Sanusi, Leon Balogun, William Troost-Ekong (C), Wilfred Ndidi, Oghenekaro Etebo, Kelechi Iheanacho, Victor Osimhen, Samuel Chukwueze, Alex Iwobi

Reserves: John Noble, Ola Aina, Henry Onyekuru, Jamilu Collins, Shehu Abdullahi, Paul Onuachu, Chidozie Awaziem, Semi Ajayi, Ahmed Musa, Anayo Iwuala, Adekunle Adeleke

Uzoho starts for the first time since October 2019 as Iwobi returns
Nigeria’s goalkeeper to the last FIFA World Cup, Francis Uzoho makes his return to the Super Eagles starting 11 in the match against Lesotho.

Uzoho last featured for the Eagles in a friendly match against Brazil on October 13, 2019, where he suffered a knee injury that required key-hole surgery. He was out for more than a year but he made a competitive return in January 2021 for APOEL Nicosia in a Cypriot First Division game.

Gernot Rohr also named Alex Iwobi in the team that will face Lesotho in the dead-rubber Group L encounter. Henry Onyekuru, Maduka Okoye, Joe Aribo, and Ola Aina make way from the 11 that started against the Benin Republic last Saturday.

The Super Eagles are already qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations Cup [AFCON] scheduled for Cameroon in January 2022.

Starting 11
Francis Uzoho
Tyronne Ebuehi
Leon Balogun
William Troost-Ekong (C)
Zaidu Sanusi
Wilfred Ndidi
Samuel Chukwueze
Oghenekaro Etebo
Alex Iwobi
Kelechi Iheanacho
Victor Osimhen

The two teams are making their way into the pitch as we are set for action at the Teslim Balogun Stadium

The national anthems of both teams now being rendered with Lesotho first and then that of the Super Eagles of Nigeria

Lesotho XI:
Sekhoane Moerane 16
Thabang Malane 14
Bokang Sello 8
Nkau Lerothiloll 19
Basia Makepe 3
Mothlomelo Mkhwanazi 2
Thabo Lesaoana 12
Tsepo Toloane 4
Nkoto Masoabi 17
Ltseoe Marabe 15
Tumelo Khuklang 1

Here we go…. Kickoff at the Teslim Balogun!

Lesotho goalkeeper makes a diving punch as the Eagles threaten

Chukuweze with a low shot but not so threatening for the Lesotho keeper

Osimhen chests a ball just outside the box and shoots wide. Balogun then loses the ball on the edge of the Nigeria box and No.17 tries his luck from a distance but it is wide.

Etebo shoots just wide from outside the Lesotho box

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Super Eagles dictating the pace of the game expectedly

Kelechi Iheanacho flagged for offside

The players take some water break as the game is temporarily halted for the Lesotho keeper to get quick treatment

Chukwueze dispossessed of the ball on the right flank

Poor cross by Osimhen disrupts a good run by the Super Eagles

Still Nigeria 0-0 Lesotho

Osimhen scores from a cute pass from Iheanacho but it was just offside. Osimhen was offside by millimetres from the video replays

Chukwueze skips past his marker but his cross is too short for Osimhen. It is all Eagles at this point.

Goooooaaaaallllll!!! What a move and what a pass from Iheanacho to Osimhen who nipped ahead of the Lesotho goalkeeper to lift over and into the net. Nigeria 1-0 Lesotho

Nigeria 1-0 Lesotho

Free kick for Lesotho but not much is made off it

Super Eagles concede another free-kick just outside the penalty box

Lesotho get their first corner kick of the game

From a set-piece outside the box, Uzoho made a save which No.3 rebounds into the net but the Lesotho player is adjudged offside.

Super Eagles concede another free-kick just outside the penalty box

Lesotho almost with an equaliser but their goal chalked off for offside

Ltseoe Marabe with a nice try for the Crocodiles

Still Nigeria 1-0 Lesotho

The Super Eagles win a free-kick of their own but Lesotho make good clerance

Leon Balogun with a good defensive display

Etebo commits a foul