Nigeria secured a point against Zimbabwe in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers thanks to Kelechi Iheanacho’s second-half goal, redeeming a challenging start.
The Super Eagles face ongoing difficulties, having garnered only two points out of a potential six with consecutive draws against Lesotho and Zimbabwe in Group C.
Despite a sluggish beginning for the three-time African champions, Zimbabwe took the lead after 25 minutes with a formidable free-kick from Walter Musona.
Nigeria quickly shook off their initial sluggishness in the pursuit of a comeback, but the home team displayed unwavering defense, successfully thwarting Terem Moffi’s attempts.
In response to the challenging situation, coach Jose Peseiro promptly made changes during the halftime interval, introducing Iheanacho and Bayer Leverkusen’s Victor Boniface.
Shortly thereafter, the Super Eagles found themselves with a prime opportunity to nullify Zimbabwe’s lead when awarded an indirect free-kick. Bonfice identified Iheanacho at the far post, but his attempt was cleared off the goal line.
Just beyond the 60-minute mark, the attacker from Leicester City, connecting with an excellent pass from Captain Moses Simon, leveled the score, injecting hope back into the Nigerian team.
Peseiro implemented further alterations, introducing Umar Sadiq and Jamilu Collins in the late stages, but the adjustments fell short, resulting in the Super Eagles settling for a draw with the Warriors of Zimbabwe.