Nigeria’s hopes of reaching the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico suffered another setback on Tuesday with a potentially damaging 1-1 draw against Zimbabwe in Uyo.
After enduring a frustrating first half, Victor Osimhen broke the deadlock for Nigeria in the 74th minute of the game but Eric Chelle’s men couldn’t hold on to their lead as they were pegged back by the visitors in stoppage time.
Coach Eric Chelle named an unchanged starting lineup from last Friday’s 2-0 win against Rwanda, but the team failed to show chemistry and also lacked urgency in front of a packed Godswill Akpabio International Stadium as Zimbabwe held them into the break.
The second half however started with some urgency with the first real threat coming from Ademola Lookman who could only find the side netting from his trademark shooting position inside the box.
Genk forward Tolu Arokodare who also joined the game in the second half also added bite to Nigeria’s attack with a headed chance a few minutes after coming on for Samuel Chukweueze.
Galatasaray striker and the hero against Rwanda, Osimhen then sent the arena into a romp in the 74th minute, heading home a pinpoint cross from Ola Aina.
With 16 minutes left on the clock, apprehension was still in the arena as Zimbabwe almost responded but the Eagles blushes were saved by the crossbar after an onrushing Stanley Nwabali blocked an initial effort into the direction of another Warriors threat.
But there was nothing to save Nigeria from Zimbabwe’s threat in the closing stages of the game as the Tawanda Chirewa sliced through the Super Eagles’ defence before slotting past Nwabali.
It was Nigeria’s fourth draw in six matches in the series – leaving them with one win and one defeat as well.
The result puts a dent in Nigeria’s resurgence in the group as they sit fourth in the group with seven points, a whopping six points behind leaders South Africa who occupy the automatic qualifying spot in the group after grabbing a 2-0 win against the Benin Republic in Abidjan.
Rwanda and the Benin Republic are second and third with eight points each with four matches to go in the series.
