All focus on Lesotho game before we turn attention to Benin – Nigeria midfielder Wilfred Ndidi

Assistant captain of Nigeria’s Super Eagles, Wilfred Ndidi, has urged his teammates to focus on their upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Lesotho.

Currently third in Group C, Nigeria needs to beat Lesotho and Benin in the next seven days to stand any chance of qualifying for next year’s World Cup.

While both matches are important, Ndidi believes the Super Eagles must take it one match at a time.

“We know where we are at the moment, and these two games are really crucial, but firstly, we’ll focus on the game against Lesotho before we turn our attention to the one against Benin. What is most important right now is the game against Benin,” Ndidi said in an interview with the media team of Nigeria.

On his part, defender Calvin Bassey called for calm ahead of the two matches. Although he admits there is pressure, he is confident there are experienced players in the team to guide the young ones through this difficult period.

“The goal is to remain calm and do what we have to do. This is not the first time, club or country, any one of us will be in high-pressure moments. I think we’ve got an experienced team to handle this situation, and it’s just about making sure we do everything right,” Bassey said.

Nigeria takes on Lesotho on Friday, October 10, before hosting Benin on Tuesday, October 14.