The Super Eagles will look to build on their commanding victory over Rwanda as they prepare to face Zimbabwe in a crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Tuesday (today).
Nigeria revived their faltering qualification campaign with a decisive 2-0 win over Rwanda at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali on Friday, breaking a 20-year winless streak in Rwanda. That victory propelled the Eagles to fourth place in Group C with six points, reigniting their hopes of securing a World Cup ticket.
Despite the much-needed win, team captain, William Troost-Ekong has emphasized that the job is far from done, urging his teammates to remain focused.“We are looking forward to a win. The three points are important to us. At this stage, we cannot afford to drop any more points,” Ekong said.
“Our aim is to take it one match at a time, collect three points here and there, and hope fervently that these will be enough to get us the ticket.”
New head coach, Eric Chelle has injected renewed energy into the team, making an impressive start to his tenure with last Friday’s commanding victory. The Malian tactician took charge following a disappointing run of four winless games under former coach Finidi George, culminating in a shocking 2-1 defeat to Benin in June 2024.
The return of Victor Osimhen has also given Nigeria a massive boost. The former African Player of the Year, who missed previous qualifiers due to controversy over his national team commitment, silenced his critics with a match-winning brace against Rwanda.
“We are ready. The remaining matches are wars, and we must fight them with everything we have to win,” Osimhen declared.
With Nigeria now trailing second-placed Benin Republic by just two points and group leaders, South Africa by four, today’s clash against Zimbabwe is a must-win for the Super Eagles as they push for a spot in the 2026 World Cup.
This will be the fourth World Cup qualifier between Nigeria and Zimbabwe, with the Super Eagles winning two of their previous three encounters. However, their last meeting ended in a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture of this campaign.
Zimbabwe, under Michael Nees, has struggled for form, remaining winless in the group with three points from three draws. However, they showed resilience in their last match, battling back from a two-goal deficit to hold Benin to a 2-2 draw. Marshall Munetsi and Knowledge Musona were on target in that game, and they will be looking to trouble Nigeria’s defense once again.
The Warriors’ backline, which has conceded a group-high eight goals, faces a daunting test against Nigeria’s attacking firepower, led by the in-form Ademola Lookman and the prolific Osimhen.
For today’s highly anticipated showdown, Eritrean referee Teklu Mogos Tsegay will officiate, supported by compatriots as assistant referees and fourth official. Ghana’s Prosper Harrison Addo has been appointed as the match commissioner, while Paulin Ilboudo from Burkina Faso will serve as referee assessor.
Elsewhere in Group C, leaders South Africa (10 points) will face second-placed Benin Republic (8 points) at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan, in a game that could impact Nigeria’s qualification hopes.
Meanwhile, Lesotho, now in fifth place, will take on Rwanda at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali in the final match of this round of qualifiers. With everything to play for, the Super Eagles know that only victory will keep their World Cup dreams alive.
