Despite the backing of a massive home crowd filled with influential figures, the Super Eagles failed to secure all three points, leaving their qualification hopes in serious doubt.
Missed Opportunities and Costly Mistakes
The first half ended 1-1 after a tense 45 minutes where both sides struggled to find their rhythm.
Nigeria started the match with urgency, trying to impose their dominance early on. However, Zimbabwe remained resolute in their defensive setup, denying the Super Eagles clear-cut chances in the opening stages.
Kelechi Iheanacho and Samuel Chukwueze had half-chances but failed to test the Zimbabwean goalkeeper, while the visitors looked threatening on the counterattack, forcing Francis Uzoho into an early save.
Nigeria, desperate to take control, finally broke the deadlock in the 73rd minute when Victor Osimhen nodded home an inch-perfect cross from Ola Aina.
The Galatasaray striker’s goal sent the stadium into a frenzy, as it seemed Nigeria had finally found their breakthrough after a long spell of frustration in front of goal.
However, the Super Eagles failed to kill the game off. Just three minutes after taking the lead, Zimbabwe came agonizingly close to equalizing when Knowledge Musona’s powerful effort struck the underside of the crossbar following a defensive mix-up.
[/p]It was a clear warning sign for Nigeria, but they failed to heed it. Their inability to control possession and dictate the tempo allowed Zimbabwe to stay in the game, and the visitors kept pushing for a late equalizer.
A Late Blow for Nigeria
With a one-goal lead and time running out, Nigeria had a golden opportunity to put the game to bed in the 83rd minute.
Moses Simon picked out Wilfred Ndidi in a dangerous position, but the Leicester City midfielder’s poor decision-making saw him sky his effort instead of using his stronger left foot. That miss would prove costly.
Just when it looked like Nigeria would scrape through with all three points, disaster struck in the 90th minute.
Tawanda Chirewa capitalized on sloppy defending to fire home a dramatic equalizer, silencing the home crowd and sending Zimbabwe into wild celebrations.
The late goal was a massive blow for the Super Eagles, who were just minutes away from securing a crucial victory. However, their failure to stay compact defensively and manage the game in the dying moments proved costly once again.
[/p]A Qualification Setback
The result marks Nigeria’s third home draw in the World Cup qualifiers after six matches, leaving them stuck in fourth place with seven points, while Zimbabwe remain bottom with four.
The Super Eagles are now at serious risk of missing out on a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as their performances have failed to meet expectations throughout the qualifiers.
Head coach Eric Chelle was visibly frustrated after the match, acknowledging the team’s lack of consistency and failure to capitalize on key moments.
[/p]Mathematically, it’s not over, but they’ve made it a lot harder for themselves now. With South Africa and Benin continuing to pick up points, Nigeria will need to turn things around quickly if they hope to stay in the race for qualification.
For Zimbabwe, it was a spirited performance—one that showcased their resilience and determination to fight until the very last moment. Their ability to stay in the game and capitalize on Nigeria’s defensive lapses paid off in the end.
Nigeria will now have to wait until the next international break in September to try and salvage their qualification campaign.
But with tougher fixtures ahead, they will need a drastic improvement if they want to keep their World Cup dreams alive. The pressure is mounting, and the Super Eagles must find solutions fast if they hope to book their ticket to the 2026 tournament in North America.
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