Nigeria 1-1 Zimbabwe: Victor Osimhen goal not enough as Super Eagles held in crucial World Cup qualifier | OneFootball

The pressure is firmly back on the Super Eagles in their battle to qualify for next summer’s World Cup

Nigeria saw their hopes of sealing automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup suffer a massive blow after conceding a 90th minute equaliser to draw 1-1 with Zimbabwe.

The Super Eagles had got their qualification campaign back on track last Friday by recording comfortable 2-0 victory away in Rwanda in what was new head coach Eric Chelle’s first game in charge since replacing Augustine Eguavoen.

In a boost for Chelle, he was able to name an unchanged side for the visit of Zimbabwe as both Victor Osimhen and Bright Osayi-Samuel were both fit to start despite being substituted in the second half against Rwanda.

Nigeria started the game strongly but found Zimbabwe goalkeeper Washington Arubi in fine form throughout. In the first-half the 39-year-old made a superb double save in quick succession to frustrate Osimhen before bravely rushing out to the feet of Osayi-Samuel to keep the wing-back at bay.

The visitors, who showed impressive character to fight back from a two-goal deficit to claim a point against Benin last week, were a threat on the counter-attack and Walter Musona fired an effort into the side-netting.

Ademola Lookman seemed certain to break the deadlock shortly before half-time but saw the door slammed in his face thanks to a brilliant block from Munashe Garananga who gave his nation something to cling onto in the second half.

Alex Iwobi came close to breaking the deadlock shortly after the restart before Arubi made yet another stunning save as he tipped substitute Tolu Arokodare’s header over the bar.

Though, Arokodare played a big role in the move that finally saw the Zimbabwe goalkeeper beaten.

Showing fantastic forward play by holding the ball up, Arokodare played it out to Ola Aina whose cross was met by Osimhen to head home for his third goal in two qualifiers. Wilfred Ndidi should have made the game safe when played in by Moses Simon but the Leicester midfielder sliced his effort wide.

That miss proved to be costly as Zimbabwe - who hit the underside of the crossbar moments after falling behind - equalised just as the clocked ticked into minute 90 when Huddersfield Town midfielder Tawanda Chirewa toe-poked the ball underneath Stanley Nwabali to earn the visitors an unlikely point.

This result leaves Nigeria six points off Group C leaders South Africa - who beat Benin 2-0. Though they remain a point behind second-placed Rwanda with four games remaining of the World Cup qualification campaign as a play-off place seems Chelle side’s best bet to take part in next summer’s tournament.