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Nigeria’s ambitions to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup took a blow as the Super Eagles were forced to settle for a frustrating 1-1 draw against Zimbabwe, despite Victor Osimhen's late goal.
The Napoli forward finally broke the impasse in the second half, but a late equalizer from Tawanda Chirewa denied Nigeria a vital victory.
Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle opted for an unchanged lineup from the team’s previous 2-0 triumph over Rwanda. Nigeria started with great intensity, with Osimhen forcing two early saves from the Zimbabwean goalkeeper, while Bright Osayi-Samuel was also thwarted in a one-on-one opportunity.
Even with Nigeria's dominance, Zimbabwe maintained discipline and posed threats on the counterattack. Walter Musona nearly scored in the 15th minute, and Khama Billiat was close to breaking through until Stanley Nwabali rushed out to clear the danger.
The first half ended without goals, leaving Nigeria frustrated as Ademola Lookman and Alex Iwobi squandered promising chances. The Super Eagles also had a strong penalty claim denied when Osimhen seemed to be fouled in the box.
Nigeria came out strong in the second half, creating numerous chances but failing to finish. Simon, Lookman, and Iwobi all missed opportunities from good positions. Chelle brought Tolu Arokodare on for Samuel Chukwueze, hoping to unlock the scoring.
The breakthrough finally came in the 73rd minute when Simon sent a ball to Arokodare, who cleverly flicked it to Ola Aina. The Nottingham Forest full-back delivered an accurate cross that Osimhen headed in, marking his 26th international goal. However, just when it looked like Nigeria would secure the three points, Zimbabwe responded swiftly. Chirewa, who came on as a substitute, took advantage of a defensive error to score past Nwabali, silencing the celebrations of the Super Eagles.
Despite late-game pressure from Nigeria, Zimbabwe stood strong, leaving the visitors with a disappointing draw. This result leaves Nigeria's World Cup qualification aspirations in jeopardy, highlighting the need for improvement in future matches. While Osimhen's record-setting goal was a silver lining, the team must be more efficient as they advance in their campaign.
