Nigeria‘s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign suffered another setback on Sunday afternoon with a disappointing 1-1 draw against Zimbabwe. The Super Eagles, who were hoping to bounce back from their opening draw against Lesotho, were frustrated by Zimbabwe’s stubborn defense and could only manage a point.
Zimbabwe took the lead in the 26th minute through a free-kick from Walter Musona. The Super Eagles were slow to react to the danger and Musona was able to curl the ball over the wall and into the top corner of the net.
Nigeria struggled to create chances in the first half, but they showed more attacking intent in the second half. They were finally rewarded for their efforts in the 67th minute when Kelechi Iheanacho equalized with a left-footed shot from the center of the box.
The draw leaves both teams with two points from their opening two matches. South Africa leads Group C with three points after their 2-1 victory over Benin on Saturday.
Nigeria will now face a tough test against South Africa in their next match on June 3. The Super Eagles will need to win that match if they want to have a realistic chance of qualifying for the World Cup.
Zimbabwe can take some confidence from their draw against Nigeria. They were well-organized defensively and showed that they can compete with the best teams in Africa.
Overall, the draw was a disappointing result for both teams. Nigeria will need to improve their performance if they want to qualify for the World Cup, while Zimbabwe will need to continue their good form if they want to make a serious challenge for a top-two finish in the group.
