Nigeria’s hopes of reviving their 2026 World Cup campaign suffered a blow as Zimbabwe snatched a dramatic 1-1 draw on Tuesday, March 25, 2025.
Victor Osimhen’s 74th-minute goal seemed to secure victory for the Super Eagles, but Tawanda Chirewa’s last-minute strike denied Nigeria crucial points.
The match at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium saw Nigeria dominate early, but Zimbabwe’s resilient defense held firm. Osimhen finally broke the deadlock with a header from Simon Moses’ cross, only for Chirewa to level the score in the 90th minute.
The result leaves Nigeria with seven points from six games, while Zimbabwe remains winless but earned a valuable point.
Meanwhile, South Africa solidified their position at the top of Group C with a 2-0 victory over Benin Republic. The win extends their lead, putting pressure on Nigeria and other contenders in the race for World Cup qualification.
Only one team is guaranteed an automatic slot from the nine groups in the African qualification series. The four best losers go for a play-off, a prerequisite for an inter-continental playoff.
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