Nigeria’s World Cup Dreams Dented by Zimbabwe Draw
The Super Eagles of Nigeria faced a major setback in their journey to qualify for the World Cup next year after being held to a disappointing 1-1 draw at home against Zimbabwe. The match, held at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, saw Victor Osimhen’s header initially give Nigeria the lead, only for Taranda Chirewa to equalize for Zimbabwe in the final minutes of the game.
Following this result, Nigeria finds themselves in fourth place in Group C of the CAF qualifiers, trailing behind South Africa by six points after six matches. With only the group winner guaranteed a spot in the 2026 World Cup, Nigeria’s upcoming game against Bafana Bafana in September is crucial for their chances of qualifying.
Despite dominating the game and creating numerous chances, Nigeria failed to capitalize on their opportunities. Osimhen, who had been in fine form with two goals in the previous match against Rwanda, found his efforts denied by Zimbabwe’s goalkeeper Washington Arubi. Other players like Samuel Chukwueze, Alex Iwobi, and Ademola Lookman also struggled to find the back of the net.
In the 74th minute, Osimhen finally broke the deadlock with a well-taken header from a cross by Ola Aina. The home fans erupted in celebration, but their joy was short-lived as Zimbabwe almost scored moments later when a cross hit the underside of the crossbar.
Wilfred Ndidi had a chance to double Nigeria’s lead but failed to convert, allowing Zimbabwe to equalize through Chirewa. The 21-year-old substitute capitalized on a defensive error to score the crucial goal for the visitors, leaving Nigeria with a bitter taste of missed opportunities.
