Victor Osimhen fired a late opener however Nigeria had been held to a 1-1 draw by Zimbabwe, hurting the Tremendous Eagles‘ hopes of reaching the 2026 World Cup, Soccernet.ng experiences.
The Napoli striker broke the impasse halfway by means of the second half, lastly breaching a resolute Zimbabwe defence however Nigeria didn’t safe a 3rd win of the marketing campaign.
Tawanda Chirewa got here off the bench to web a late equaliser for Zimbabwe and break Nigerian hearts.
How It Occurred
Eric Chelle named an unchanged beginning XI from Nigeria’s 2-0 win over Rwanda 4 days earlier.
Stanley Nwabali began in objective, with Ola Aina and Brilliant Osayi-Samuel flanking the centre-back duo of Calvin Bassey and William Troost-Ekong. Wilfred Ndidi, Alex Iwobi, and Samuel Chukwueze managed midfield, whereas Moses Simon and Ademola Lookman supplied assist for Osimhen in assault.
Nigeria began brightly, and Osimhen had two large possibilities within the opening 10 minutes.
First, the Galatasaray ahead noticed his angled effort tipped behind, earlier than his highly effective header from the ensuing nook pressured one other positive cease.
Osayi-Samuel then went one-on-one with the Zimbabwe goalkeeper however was denied on the final second.
Regardless of Nigeria’s early strain, Zimbabwe remained organised and posed a risk on the counter.
Within the fifteenth minute, Walter Musona raced clear and struck a fierce shot that hit the aspect netting. Nigeria responded moments later, with Lookman’s effort from distance simply clearing the crossbar.
Simon, a relentless risk down the left, tormented his marker however was wasteful in key moments, opting to shoot when a cross to Osimhen regarded the higher possibility.
Zimbabwe got here shut once more within the nineteenth minute when Nwabali needed to rush out and smother the ball at Khama Billiat’s ft after a defence-splitting move.
Nigeria’s greatest first-half likelihood arrived on the half-hour mark. Iwobi set Simon away on a counter-attack, and the Nantes winger squared for Chukwueze, whose first-time strike whistled simply previous the publish.
Simply earlier than the break, Osimhen seemed to be fouled within the field, however the referee waved play on, leaving Nigeria annoyed.
Lookman then had a close-range shot blocked, and Iwobi fired narrowly over from the sting of the realm with the final kick of the half.
At halftime, all three Group C matches had been goalless, with Benin vs. South Africa and Rwanda vs. Lesotho each stage at 0-0.
Second Half
Nigeria resumed on the entrance foot and carved out three fast possibilities, however Osimhen, Simon, Lookman, and Iwobi all didn’t hit the goal from promising positions.
Simon, Nigeria’s standout performer, delivered a teasing inswinger within the 54th minute, however Osimhen couldn’t get on the top of it.
Moments later, Simon’s dazzling dribble arrange Lookman, however the Atalanta ahead was crowded out earlier than he may shoot.
Chelle launched Tolu Arokodare for Chukwueze simply after the hour mark, looking for a breakthrough.
Nigeria saved pushing, with Osimhen organising Simon for a golden likelihood, however the winger fired huge. Arokodare then noticed two headed efforts – one saved and one other off-target – as Nigeria piled on the strain.
Lastly, with 17 minutes remaining, the breakthrough arrived. Simon lofted a looking ball to Arokodare, who flicked it into Aina’s path. The Nottingham Forest defender whipped in an ideal cross, and Osimhen glanced a header previous the Zimbabwe keeper.
It was Osimhen’s twenty sixth worldwide objective and seventh in World Cup qualifying, shifting him previous Yakubu Aiyegbeni’s document of six. Solely Obafemi Martins (10) has now scored extra World Cup qualifying objectives for Nigeria.
With Rwanda drawing at dwelling to Lesotho, Nigeria momentarily climbed into second spot in Group C. Nonetheless, the Tremendous Eagles misplaced the plot and Zimbabwe virtually equalised, however the crossbar got here to Nigeria’s rescue with Nwabali overwhelmed.
The Warriors ultimately discovered the equaliser after Chirewa surged by means of the Nigerian defence earlier than poking the ball previous Nwabali within the closing phases.
Group C Standings
The draw leaves Nigeria on seven factors and caught in fourth place behind South Africa, Rwanda and Benin, who each have eight.
South Africa’s 2-0 win away to Benin sees the Bafana Bafana boast 13 factors and retains the Tremendous Eagles six factors behind the leaders with solely 4 extra video games to play.
