Nigeria’s chances of reaching the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals were dealt a blow yesterday after Zimbabwe’s Warriors scored a last-minute equalizer in their Matchday 6 clash at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo.
As a result, the Super Eagles remain in fourth place in Group C, while group leaders South Africa extended their lead with a composed 2-0 victory over Benin Republic in Abidjan, moving to 13 points.
Benin Republic’s Cheetahs and Rwanda’s Amavubi are both on eight points, one more than the Super Eagles, with four rounds of matches left, to be played over the months of September and October.
Usual suspect Victor James Osimhen, playing his 40th match for the Nigeria senior team, scored to put Nigeria in front after 73 minutes, making hay from Olaoluwa Aina’s cross from the left that escaped every Zimbabwean player in the defence.
With robust confidence and a positive spirit from their win over Rwanda in Kigali on Friday, Nigeria launched onslaught after onslaught particularly through the left side of the Zimbabwean defence, with Simon Moses always in good flow, but goalkeeper Washington Arubi thwarted their forays and kept his team in the game.
Three minutes after Osimhen’s goal, the visitors could have scored as Khama Billiat broke from the left and the Super Eagles were only saved by the crossbar.
Substitute Tawanda Chireda would eventually find the leveller on the dot of 90 minutes, as the Warriors swept past the Nigeria rear-guard and he cleverly poked past goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali from close range.
