By Nurudeen Obalola
Zimbabwe scored a late equaliser to earn a 1-1 draw with the Super Eagles in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier in Uyo on Tuesday.
The Super Eagles needed to win the match to stay in contention for African qualifying Group C’s only automatic World Cup ticket, but were undone by poor defending with the game almost over.
Victor Osimhen scored the Super Eagles’ goal with 16 minutes left on the clock, his third strike in four days, and Nigeria looked to be heading for a second straight victory.
However, Zimbabwe had other ideas, striking back in the 90th minute through substitute Tawanda Chirewa.
With the result, the Super Eagles remain in fourth place with seven points, six behind leaders South Africa, who secured a 2-0 win over Benin Republic in Abidjan also on Tuesday, while Zimbabwe stay bottom.
The Super Eagles began the encounter brightly, with Osimhen forcing two brilliant saves from the Zimbabwe goalkeeper Washington Arubi in the first eight minutes.
Zimbabwe also came close in a lively first half, but it ended goalless despite Samuel Chukwueze and Ademola Lookman coming close for the goal-shy hosts.
Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle brought in Tolu Arokodare to replace Chukwueze in the second half and the move paid dividends.
The Genk striker held the ball up brilliantly in the Zimbabwe box and played in Ola Aina, whose fine low cross was headed home by Osimhen in the 74th minute.
Zimbabwe gave a warning that it was not over three minutes after Osimhen’s goal.
The Warriors almost pulled level as the ball fell to one of their men after goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali missed a cross. The Zimbabwe striker blasted the ball against the upright with the goal gaping.
The Super Eagles did not heed the warning and they paid dearly for it, with Chirewa profiting from William Troost-Ekong’s hesitant defending to poke the ball underneath Nwabali and silence the packed Godswill Akpabio Stadium.
