The Super Eagles’ chance of reaching the 2026 FIFA World Cup has been dealt a major blow following a frustrating 1-1 draw with a resilient Zimbabwe team at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Tuesday.
Nigeria dominated the first half but failed to find the breakthrough, coming closest through Victor Osimhen whose chance to score crashed off the Zimbabwe woodwork instead, as the first half ended goalless.
Zimbabwe continued to keep Nigeria at bay until Tolu Arokodare introduction to partner Osimhen upfront started causing more headaches for the visitors’ defence.
The substitute would end up being involved in the game’s opening goal after 74 minutes, laying the ball off for Ola Aina to send an inch-perfect cross which Osimhen scored with a diving header at the far post to give Nigeria the lead.
Zimbabwe’s Warriors almost struck immediately with a counter-attack which caught the Super Eagles’ defence napping, only for the ball to crash off the crossbar to the relief of the home team.
Wilfred Ndidi then spurned a glorious chance to double the lead for Nigeria, with the Leicester City midfielder being put through on goal by Moses Simon only to send a shot wide from the near post.
Nigeria would be made to rue that missed chance in the 90th minute as Zimbabwe again caught the Super Eagles defence sleeping in another smooth counter-attacking move which ended with Tawanda Chirewa poking the ball past Stanley Nwabali for the equaliser.