Nigeria’s chances of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup are now in jeopardy after Zimbabwe scored a last-minute equaliser, leaving the Super Eagles trailing in Group C.
Victor Osimhen’s diving header had put Nigeria on the verge of back-to-back victories, but in the dying seconds of the match, Tawanda Chirewa, on loan from Huddersfield, silenced the home crowd in Uyo by poking the ball past goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali in the 90th minute.
With six matches completed in the 10-match group stage, Nigeria now finds themselves six points adrift of leaders South Africa, who triumphed 2-0 away against Benin thanks to goals from Burnley’s Lyle Foster and Jayden Adams.
Having missed out on the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Nigeria currently sits fourth in the group, one point behind Rwanda and Benin.
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Only the nine group winners will secure automatic qualification for next year’s expanded 48-team tournament. Meanwhile, the four best second-place teams will compete in a playoff for a chance to qualify through an intercontinental tournament that will determine the final spots for the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
After failing to win their first four matches in Group C, Nigeria and their new coach, Eric Chelle, were under pressure to secure maximum points from their two fixtures this month.
The Super Eagles came out with intensity against Zimbabwe, forcing goalkeeper Washington Arubi into six saves within the first 10 minutes.
Victor Osimhen, who netted both goals in Nigeria’s 2-0 victory over Rwanda on Friday, saw a volley from a tight angle tipped behind, and his header from the subsequent corner was spectacularly saved.
After Alex Iwobi and substitute Tolu Arokodare came close, it seemed Osimhen had secured another crucial three points for Nigeria when he finished Ola Aina’s cross in the 74th minute.
However, Zimbabwe nearly equalised immediately when Stanley Nwabali failed to gather a left-wing cross, and Knowledge Musona’s shot hit the crossbar.
Then, in the dying seconds, the Warriors stunned the Uyo crowd when Tawanda Chirewa calmly slotted the ball past Nwabali, leaving Nigeria needing other results to go their way in order to stay in contention.
