Super Eagles coach hails Akor Adams, reveals what happened in dressing room after win v Lesotho

Nigeria secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Lesotho on matchday nine of the 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifiers on Friday evening, but the result may not be enough to secure a playoff spot yet, allnigeriasoccer.com reports.

The Super Eagles remain third in Group C, trailing second-placed South Africa by a single point ahead of the final round of fixtures.

On Tuesday, Nigeria will face group leaders Benin at home, knowing that victory is essential while also relying on Rwanda to take points off South Africa if they are to progress.

Sevilla forward Akor Adams emerged as the hero of the evening, coming off the bench to score the decisive goal with ten minutes left on the clock on his senior debut for the Super Eagles. 

The former Nigeria U20 international has earned a growing reputation as a super substitute, having now scored in three consecutive matches for club and country after being introduced from the bench.

At the post-match press conference, manager Eric Chelle expressed his satisfaction with Adams' performance but was quick to emphasise the collective effort of his team. 

He said he was pleased for the striker but preferred to highlight the unity and focus of the entire squad. 

Chelle noted that the players showed strong camaraderie in the dressing room after the win, describing the atmosphere as calm and filled with mutual respect.

The Nigerian coach further remarked that his players were driven by their competitive spirit and ambition, pointing out that many of them play for top clubs in major European leagues and share a strong desire to reach the World Cup. 

He reiterated that the victory was the most important outcome of the night and added that the team was grateful for the opportunity to continue fighting for qualification on home soil.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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