The Super Eagles of Nigeria have arrived in Polokwane, South Africa, to intensify their preparations for the crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Lesotho. The match is scheduled for Friday at the Peter Mokaba Stadium, which will also host the team's training sessions commencing Tuesday morning. Head coach Eric Chelle and his technical staff settled into The Ranch Hotel early Monday, with all 23 invited players expected to fly directly from their respective club bases across Europe and Asia into South Africa.

Coach Eric Chelle previously unveiled a 23-man squad for this international window, which includes the qualifier against Lesotho and the subsequent fixture against Benin Republic. Captain William Troost-Ekong leads the team, with Semi Ajayi, Terem Moffi, Alhassan Yusuf, and Olakunle Olusegun making returns to the squad. Notably, Akor Adams has received a new invitation.

While the attacking line of the Super Eagles appears formidable, significant concerns loom over the defensive department due to a spate of injuries. First-choice right-back Ola Aina is sidelined until December. Adding to this dilemma, Bright Osayi-Samuel has been ruled out due to injury, and Felix Agu, who was set to deputize at right-back, limped off during a recent Werder Bremen match and is now expected to miss months of competitive action following an ankle injury. This leaves the right-back position severely depleted.

In the midfield, Wilfred Ndidi, a Leicester City midfielder who recently returned from a lengthy layoff, endured a difficult outing in a recent club match, an error in which led to an equalizer. He remains under close observation by the medical team to assess his match readiness.

Conversely, Nigeria's attacking prowess is in red-hot form. Victor Osimhen, the prolific Napoli striker, continues to find his rhythm, having netted a decisive penalty goal in Napoli’s 1–0 Champions League win over Liverpool. He also featured prominently in a recent club fixture. New invitee Akor Adams made a significant impact in Spain, scoring Sevilla’s fourth goal in their emphatic 4–1 victory over Barcelona, a result that ended the Catalans’ 15-game unbeaten run. Compatriot Chidera Ejuke provided the assist for Adams' goal, highlighting the depth in Nigeria’s forward options.

A tactical headache for coach Chelle is the disciplinary tightrope many of his players are walking. No fewer than 11 players, including key figures like Ajayi, Bassey, Iwobi, Ndidi, Lookman, and Nwabali, are currently carrying yellow cards. Another booking for any of these players would result in them missing the crucial final group fixture against Benin Republic in Uyo.

Nigeria currently sits third in Group C with 11 points, trailing leaders Benin and South Africa. However, their qualification hopes received a significant boost after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) overturned South Africa’s 2–0 win over Lesotho. This decision, stemming from South Africa fielding an ineligible player, means the match is now recorded as a 3–0 defeat for Bafana Bafana. This twist could potentially alter the group dynamics in Nigeria’s favor. For coach Chelle, the camp in Polokwane is crucial for striking a balance between confidence and caution as the Super Eagles relentlessly pursue a ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.