Nigeria vs. Zimbabwe final score: World Cup qualifying result, stats as Super Eagles suffer huge blow to 2026 hopes

Zimbabwe’s 1-1 draw against Nigeria at home dealt a potentially devastating blow to Nigeria’s chances of qualifying for the World Cup in the following year. The match was played in Nigeria’s home stadium.

At the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, the fans was silenced when Huddersfield Town striker Taranda Chirewa equalised the score for the away team in the 90th minute. Victor Osimhen’s header appeared to be sufficient to secure three crucial points for the Super Eagles. However, Chirewa then equalised the score for the visitors.

As a result of this victory, Nigeria is currently ranked fourth in Group C of the CAF qualifying section, currently six points behind South Africa, who is currently in first place. Due to the fact that only the team that finishes first in each group is guaranteed a spot in the finals in 2026, the final score between Nigeria and Zimbabwe

Goal scorers who are full-time
74 minutes: Nigeria 1 Osimhen; 90 minutes: Zimbabwe 1 Chirewa
Uyo, Nigeria’s Godswill Akpabio Stadium is the name of the venue.

Tsegay Mogos Teklu, who is an ERI, is the referee.

Lineups getting started:

From right to left, the following players represent Nigeria: 23. Stanley Nwabali (GK) – 12. Bright Osayi-Samuel, 15. Fifth, William Troost-Ekong, and Twenty-one, Calvin Bassey, It is Ola Aina. Wilfred Ndidi, number four; Samuel Chukwueze, number eleven; Tolu Arokodare, ninth; 7th place: Ademola Lookman As of right now, Alex Iwobi is ranked seventeenth, followed by Raphael Onyedika, Victor Osimhen, Victor Boniface, and Moses Simon 15.

The following players are included in Zimbabwe’s 4-2-3-1 formation: 22. Washington Arubi (GK) – 5. Divine Lunga, Fourth, Munashe Garananga, and second, Gerald Takwara Emmanuel Jalai, twenty-three, and Marshall Munetsi, eight Tawanda Maswanhise, who is 19 years old, is ranked tenth. 17th, the Knowledge Musona, who 11. Khama Billiat, eighth, Prince Dube, third, Jordan Zemura, and twelfth, Walter Musona, seventh, Terrence Dzvukamanja, and twenty, Taranda Chirewa

Osimhen scored twice to put an end to the Super Eagles’ losing streak in Group C, which had lasted for four games, and to give Eric Chelle, the new head coach of the Super Eagles, a successful beginning to his tenure in one of the most difficult jobs in African football.

After the Galatasaray team had failed to capitalise on a number of opportunities against the team that finished last in the group, it appeared as though the striker for Galatasaray would once again come through for his team. Washington Arubi, the custodian, produced a number of excellent saves in the first half to prevent Osimhen from scoring. Samuel Chukwueze, Alex Iwobi, and Ademola Lookman all failed to hit the target when they should have done better.

Osimhen finally found the back of the net in the 74th minute, when he stooped to head in Ola Aina’s cross from the left side. This caused the home fans to go into raptures, despite the fact that they were on the verge of conceding three minutes later, when custodian Stanley Nwabali made a mess of a cross and the loose ball was fired against the underside of the bar.

Wilfred Ndidi missed a fantastic opportunity to score a goal for Leicester City, and it was the Leicester City player who failed to recognise Chirewa’s run, which resulted in Zimbabwe securing them a point. The Wolves loanee, who is 21 years old and was only on the pitch because another substitute, Terrence Dzvukamanja, sustained an injury, sneaked into the area and got to Tawanda Maswanhises’ cut-back before William Troost-Ekong, and then he finished the play by poking it past Nwabali.

Comments and updates on the match between Nigeria and Zimbabwe
The final score was Nigeria 1-1 Zimbabwe.
Uyo is completely engulfed in it, and what a potential setback this could be for Nigeria! As a result of Osimhen’s header, it appeared as though they were going to win all three points; however, Chirewa scored an equaliser in the 90th minute, which dealt a significant setback to the Super Eagles’ chances of winning the World Cup.

Around ninety minutes and five seconds, the corner kick is cleared, and all of a sudden there is a three-on-two counterattack. However, Osayi-Samuel makes a fantastic sliding challenge.

This is the final minute, and the centre backs have gone up for this 90 plus four minute mark. Zimbabwe has everyone’s support today. There is a turn around the corner…

There is a minimum of five minutes of additional time that we are entering at this point. Is it possible for Nigeria to find a victor?

After ninety minutes: GOAL! Zimbabwe has returned to parity! You simply cannot believe it! Taranda Chirewa, a forward for Huddersfield Town, makes a move into the box off the back of a static midfield, takes possession of the ball before William Troost-Ekong, and then prods a finish past Nwabali. A blow of that magnitude might be dealt to the Super Eagles!

87 minutes: A therapy is being administered to Osimhen, who is currently in a supine position. He is performing in lieu of Victor Boniface, who is a top player for Bayer Leverkusen.

84 minutes: WILFRED NDIDI, it’s time to use your left foot! By sliding a pass into Ndidi’s run, Simon creates what appears to be the 34th opportunity for another player to score a goal throughout the match. Even though the Leicester City player is in the perfect position to score, he chooses to shoot with his right foot rather than his weaker side. Furthermore, he is unable to shift his body position, which causes the ball to go wide of the goal.

This is 77 minutes: HOW IS IT NOT 1-1?! When Nwabali comes out to do a low cross, he and Calvin Bassey begin to obstruct each other’s path simultaneously. The ball that has become loose is pushed in the direction of the goal, but it is blocked by the underside of the crossbar! Astonishingly, that did not go over the acceptable limits. Nigeria continues to exist.

GOAL! 74 minutes in! The OSIMHEN is the one who breaks through! This time, he just could not afford to fail. The ball is held up by Arokodare, who then passes it to Ola Aina. Ola Aina’s low cross is then headed in at the far post by Osimhen, who is stooping. There has been an explosion here!

69 minutes: THIS IS THE END OF AROKODARE! One more Simon cross, and yet another header that goes awry. It’s hard for Chelle to believe.

At the 65-minute mark, Arokodare has his first opportunity, but his header from Iwobi’s cross is deflected out of reach. Because of its proximity to Arubi, that did not bother him very much. Nigeria’s chances will be determined by the match against Bafana Bafana that will take place in September. At 62 minutes, LOOKMAN! Once again, the shot is not on target, despite the fact that he displays excellent balance in the box in order to create some space.

At 59 minutes, Chukwueze, who has not been engaged in the game very much up until this point, is replaced by Tolu Arokodare, a striker for Genk. This is the first change of the game. In order to provide an additional target for some of these crosses, he will be accompanying Osimhen in the front two.

IWOBI HAS TO GET A SCORE! 51 minutes in! Once more, Simon makes space with some impressive footwork and then cuts it back for Iwobi on the other side. Even though the Fulham player was only a few yards away from the goal, the ball came to him rather swiftly. From that vantage point, it is impossible to miss the objective.

In fifty minutes, Nigeria is increasing the amount of pressure! The cross that was made by Bright Osayi-Samuel narrowly evaded Osimhen at the far post. The most recent floating ball that Simon had thrown in had fallen directly between the striker and Alex Iwobi a few moments earlier.

Beginning of the second half
There were no alterations made during the hiatus.

It’s halftime.
As the first half comes to a close, the referee calls it quits. There has been no way through, despite the fact that Nigeria has been dominant.

LOOKMAN DENIED! forty minutes in! His shot from within the box appears to be headed for the goal, but it actually hits one of the defenders who is wearing yellow. Nigeria is still unable to find a pass through.

32 minutes remain before CHUKWUEZE is over! Once again, it is Simon who creates the opportunity, stalling the pass once again before teeing up Chukwueze from a distance of 12 yards, but the AC Milan player is unable to strike the top corner of the net.

After 29 minutes, everything have become somewhat more calm and collected. In the final few minutes of the game, Samuel Chukwueze manages to beat his opponent but inadvertently causes the ball to leave the field of play.

17 minutes: Bravo, Simon, for his hard work! He is able to let loose, but he is unable to keep the shot down. Subsequently, he attempts to strike the ball with his left foot once more, but this time it hits the opposite side of the net. So far, this game has been very enjoyable.

Fifteen minutes: VERY CLOSE TO MUTSONA! While the attacker is running into space in the middle of the box, Nigeria’s defence is a little bit all over the place during the game. Nwabali was a little concerned about the fact that his shot hit the side netting due to the fact that it.

WHAT A SAVE of nine minutes! The header that was attempted by Victor Osimhen is stopped by Washington Arubi, who makes a spectacular one-handed save. The striker has already made three or four attempts to score, but it will be difficult for him to get any closer to a goal than that without really breaking through to the other side of the net. Reflexes that are very remarkable.

At five minutes, Walter Musona has scored a spectacular goal, which is the only alteration in the Zimbabwe lineup from the previous week; nonetheless, the offside flag has been raised. It’s possible that this is just a wake-up call for the Super Eagles.

The first half will begin.
It’s time to get back on track!

Twelve minutes prior to the start of the game: Even though it is at the relatively inconvenient time of five o’clock in the afternoon local time (and it is a hot one: 33 degrees Celsius / 91 degrees Fahrenheit), there is a considerable crowd in situ for this one. In order to witness his newly hired manager’s first home game in charge, NFF President Ibrahim Musa Gusau is currently present in the stands.

It’s a great day for it, you say thirty minutes before the game starts.