Nigeria’s Super Eagles encountered a setback in World Cup qualification with a 1-1 draw against Zimbabwe. Despite Victor Osimhen’s record goal, Nigeria remains in fourth place, trailing leading teams with only four matches left to secure their spot. The result places significant pressure on the team as they aim for qualification.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria faced a setback in their quest to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a disappointing 1-1 draw against Zimbabwe at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom. Following a promising 2-0 victory over Rwanda, Nigeria struggled to convert their dominance into goals against Zimbabwe’s defense. Despite numerous chances, the Super Eagles’ finishing was insufficient.
In the 73rd minute, Nigerian forward Moses Simon provided an assist to Tolu Arokodare, who set up Victor Osimhen for a well-placed header, marking Osimhen’s 26th goal for Nigeria and his seventh in World Cup qualifying matches. This achievement allowed him to surpass Yakubu Aiyegbeni’s prior record of six World Cup qualifying goals, with only Obafemi Martins ahead at ten.
The match took an unexpected turn late in the game when, in the 90th minute, Tawanda Chirewa equalized for Zimbabwe after exploiting gaps in Nigeria’s defense, easily placing the ball past goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali. With this draw, Nigeria’s standings suffered as they remained in fourth place with seven points, trailing South Africa, Rwanda, and Benin, each at eight.
South Africa’s recent 2-0 victory over Benin has increased their lead to 13 points, placing Nigeria six points behind with only four qualification matches left. The current structure allows only one team to secure an automatic spot from nine groups, with additional chances for the four best losers to seek a position in the inter-continental playoff.
In summation, the Super Eagles’ 1-1 draw against Zimbabwe has significantly jeopardized their World Cup qualification ambitions. Despite Victor Osimhen’s record-breaking goal, Nigeria’s failure to maintain the lead has left them in a precarious position with limited matches remaining. As the qualification process progresses, the team must regroup and seek to convert further opportunities into crucial victories.
Original Source: dailytrust.com
