The Nigerian national football team, Super Eagles, hopes of qualifying for the 2026 Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) World Cup have started fading after playing 1-1 draw against Zimbabwe during a qualifying match.
Result of the encounter has left the team stuck to fourth spot on the log behind South Africa who tops the table with 13 points and followed by Rwanda and Benin Republic raking eight points each.
With four games left to play in group C and fourth on the log, 1-1 draw played at the Godswill Akpabio stadium in Akwa Ibom on Tuesday has left Super Eagles chances of securing a spot in the 2026 tournament in serious jeopardy,
At the fourth spot, the Super Eagles now has to go all out for wins in the four remaining matches and hope that South Africa and other teams drop points during subsequent matches.
During the game watched by the Akwa Ibom Governor, Umo Eno, and his Lagos counterpart, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and other Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) officials, the Super Eagles could not convert any of the chances created during the first half, allowing the Zimbabweans to grow confidence into the game.
After 74 minutes into the game, Napoli striker, Victor Osimhen, who was loaned to Turkish club, Galatasaray, converted a cross from Nottingham Forest defender, Ola Aina, to give the host a lead during the encounter.
But the lead was short-lived after 21-year-old Tawanda Chirewa, who plies his trade in English Football League (EFL) for Huddlesfield Town, slot in a pass from 22-year-old Tawanda Maswanhise, who plays for Motherwell in the Scottish league.
The equalizer left over 30,000 Nigerian football fans that gathered inside the stadium speechless with many wondering how the Super Eagles defense led by the team’s captain, Trost Ekong, allowed their opponent score.
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