Nigeria will round off their 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification campaign with a clash against Lesotho on Tuesday.
The home side have already booked their spot in the finals of the competition, sitting top of Group L with 11 points from seven matches, while Lesotho are rock bottom of the section with three points.
Match preview
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Nigeria are three-time winners of the Africa Cup of Nations, with their last success coming back in 2013; they did not qualify for the 2015 or 2017 editions of the tournament but were present in 2019, finishing third.
The Super Eagles are unbeaten in Group L, winning three and drawing two of their five matches to collect 11 points, which has left them four points clear of second-placed Benin and seven clear of Sierra Leone in third.
Gernot Rohr's side actually went on a four-game winless run in all competitions between October 9 and November 17, but a 1-0 success over Benin on Saturday secured their spot in the AFCON finals.
Nigeria, who have also been present in each of the last three World Cups, will be bidding to finish their Group L campaign with a victory, and they will be a team to watch in the competition, which starts in January 2022.
Lesotho, meanwhile, have never qualified for the finals of an Africa Cup of Nations tournament, and they will also not be present in next year's competition, which is not a surprise.
The Crocodiles are without a victory in any competition since August 2019, but they have only lost two of their five matches in this section, picking up three points, meaning that third position is still open in Group L.
Thabo Senong's side suffered a 4-2 loss to Nigeria in the reverse match in November 2019 before going down 1-0 against Benin in their next qualification match almost one year later, but the national team have played out goalless draws with Benin and Sierra Leone in their last two games.
The team ranked 143rd in the world by FIFA is mainly made up of players from the Lesotho Premier League, but they will not provide straightforward opposition for Nigeria in this game.
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Team News
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Nigeria's starting side is again expected to include a number of familiar faces on Tuesday, with Leicester City's Kelechi Iheanacho and Napoli's Victor Osimhen set to continue in the final third of the field.
Iheanacho's club teammate Wilfred Ndidi should also retain his spot, while Rangers defender Leon Balogun is likely to start at the back alongside Watford's William Troost-Ekong.
Villarreal's Samuel Chukwueze is also expected to feature in the first XI once again, while Fulham's Ola Aina should continue at left-back for the home side.
As for Lesotho, there are not expected to be many alterations from the side that played out a goalless draw with Sierra Leone on Saturday.
Sera Motebang could be joined in the final third of the field by Tumelo Khutlang, who was a second-half substitute during his side's last outing.
Tsepo Toloane and Litsepe Marabe also appeared off the bench at the weekend and could be in contention to start, but head coach Senong is not expected to shuffle his pack too much.
Nigeria possible starting lineup:
Okoye; Balogun, Troost-Ekong, Sanusi, Aina; Ndidi, Aribo, Onyekuru; Osimhen, Iheanacho, Chukwueze
Lesotho possible starting lineup:
Moearane; Malane, Mkwanazi, Lerotholi, Masiu; Kalake, Fothoane, Mokhachane, Ngatane; Motebang, Khutlang
We say: Nigeria 2-0 Lesotho
There is not too much to play for in this match other than pride, but both teams will be keen to finish their qualification campaigns with a win. Lesotho have picked up draws in their last two matches, but we are expecting Nigeria to emerge victorious on Tuesday evening.
Matt Law
