There’s growing tension in the Super Eagles camp as eight key players, including Ademola Lookman, Stanley Nwabali, and Alex Iwobi, are walking a disciplinary tightrope ahead of Nigeria’s crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Lesotho’s Crocodiles.
According to AllNigeriaSoccer, the list of players one booking away from suspension includes Semi Ajayi (Hull City), Calvin Bassey and Alex Iwobi (both of Fulham), Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas), Tolu Arokodare (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United), Ademola Lookman (Atalanta), and Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiakos).
The warning means any of these players who pick up a yellow card in Friday’s clash could miss next Tuesday’s high-stakes encounter against Gernot Rohr’s Benin Republic in Uyo.
Under FIFA’s rules for the 2026 qualifiers, players who receive two yellow cards in separate matches are automatically suspended for the next game — a regulation that could force manager Eric Chelle to make tough tactical calls.
Notably, fullbacks Jamilu Collins, Sodiq Ismail, Bright Osayi-Samuel, and striker Umar Sadiq would have also been at risk but were left out of the current squad. Osayi-Samuel reportedly pulled out through injury, while the others were not listed by Chelle.
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The situation leaves the Super Eagles needing both composure and discipline as they chase vital qualification points. Despite the looming threat, Nigeria remain the only team in Group C yet to have any player suspended — a record they’ll be eager to maintain.
All eyes will be on Nwabali, Lookman, Ndidi, Bassey, and Iwobi, who are expected to start against Lesotho, as fans hope the team’s quest for World Cup qualification doesn’t suffer a setback from disciplinary slips.
