Osimhen
By Patrick Omorodion
A late equaliser from Tawanda Chirewa was all the Warriors of Zimbabwe needed to deny the Super Eagles the maximum points they so desired to keep their hope of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup alive.
The Super Eagles had gone ahead in the 87th minute when Victor Osimhen connected a cross from Ola Aina with a diving header to beat the Zimbabwean goalkeeper, Washington Arubi who was disappointed with his defenders Munashe Garananga and Emmanuel Jalai caught flat-footed.
Zimbabwe’s backbreaking equaliser which poured cold water on the Nigerian fans inside the Godswill Akpabio Stadium came about four minutes after a fatigued Osimhen was substituted for his namesake, Victor Boniface.
Just like in the Kigali match against Rwanda when the Super Eagles lost steam after Osimhen was substituted after scoring two goals, they went cold again after Osimhen left the pitch and in one of the backward movements, Captain William Troost-Ekong lost the ball to a Zimbabwean who found a lurking Chirewa to do the the damage.
With South Africa defeating Benin Republic in Abidjan and taking control of Group C with 13 points, six ahead of Nigeria, automatic qualification is now near impossible because even if they win the remaining four matches, they will end at 19 points.
Bafana Bafana could end at 22 points if they lose to the Super Eagles and win the other three matches.
