Zimbabwe captain, Marshall Munetsi, has downplayed expectations on his team ahead of their crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Nigeria, stating that all the pressure is on the Super Eagles, not on his squad.
Zimbabwe currently sits at the bottom of Group C with just three points from five matches, while Nigeria occupies fourth place with six points. The last time both teams faced off, they played to a 1-1 draw in Rwanda last November, a result that saw Zimbabwe frustrate the Super Eagles in a tightly contested match.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference on Monday, Munetsi was asked about the challenge of playing away from home in front of opposition fans. In response, he emphasized that his team has nothing to lose and that the weight of expectation will be on Nigeria, who are under pressure to win in front of their home supporters.
“Not really, most of our players are based in Europe, so playing away is actually more fun than playing at home. The pressure is always on the home team,” Munetsi said.
“If we manage to start very well, then the pressure is on them to try and get a good result, but for us, it is a pleasure to be here. It is such a nice stadium, and we are looking forward to the challenge.”
Nigeria will take on Michael Nees’ side at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, on Tuesday in what is considered a must-win match for the Super Eagles as they look to improve their qualification chances.
The Super Eagles reignited their qualifying hopes with a 2-0 victory over Rwanda last Friday, and they are determined to build on that momentum as they prepare to face Zimbabwe.
A win for Nigeria would move them to nine points, keeping them firmly in the race for a World Cup spot and closing the gap on the group leaders. Meanwhile, Zimbabwe will be desperate to turn their fortunes around and register their first victory in the qualifiers, hoping to mount an unexpected challenge in the group standings.
Elsewhere in Group C, table-toppers South Africa (10 points) will face second-placed Benin Republic (8 points) in a high-stakes clash in Abidjan. The outcome of that match could significantly shape the qualification picture moving forward.
In another fixture, fifth-placed Lesotho will take on Rwanda in Kigali, with both teams hoping to improve their standing in the group.
With Nigeria in need of maximum points to stay in contention, all eyes will be on Eric Chelle’s men to deliver a strong performance and secure victory in front of their home crowd.
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