Shock! Shame! Embarrassment! Nigeria failed to beat the minnows, Zimbabwe, and probably ruined all their World Cup hopes! The Super Eagles missed a number of promising chances, while the Warriors were kept alive by their 39-year-old keeper Washington Arubi.Victor Osimhen finally broke the deadlock 16 minutes before the end, but Wolverhampton loanee at Huddersfield Tawanda Chirewa equalized in the first minute of added time, shocking around 30,000 people at Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo – 1-1.A point gained in Uyo!Full Time Nigeria 1-1 Zimbabwe. pic.twitter.com/skb03d4uxO— Zimbabwe Football Association (@online_zifa) March 25, 2025 Had it not been for the outstanding Zimbabwe’s custodian Washington Arubi, Nigeria could have broken the deadlock already in the opening ten minutes. The fantastic 39-year-old keeper noted as many as five brilliant saves in nine minutes (?!), stopping Victor Osimhen (twice), Moses Simon, and Bright Osayi-Samuel.South Africa face point deduction?!The visitors’ responded over Walter Musona and Khama Billiat, but the former shot wide of the post, while the latter couldn’t score past the Super Eagles’ goalie, Stanley Nwabali.In the last quarter of an hour of the first half, Samuel Chukwueze and Ademola Lookman had decent chances to open the scoring, but the rivals remained level at the break.HT: 🇳🇬 Nigeria 0-0 Zimbabwe 🇿🇼WASHINGTON ARUBI 🧱Thoughts? 💭#Zimbabwe #WCQ2026 #WCQ #NGAZIM #SoarSuperEagles #Zimfootball— Zimbabwe Football ⚽️ 🇿🇼 (@zim_football) March 25, 2025 The Super Eagles continued in the same manner in the second half, but wasted chances kept piling up, as Alex Iwobi missed the entire goal from five-meter distance, sending the ball over the bar. Eric Chelle tried to improve his team’s attack, subbing in Genk forward Toluwalase Emmanuel Arokodare for Chukwueze, and the sub had a decent attempt shortly after entering, but Arubi was an insurmountable obstacle again.However, in the 74th minute, even the experienced keeper could only watch Osimhen netting his new national team goal! Ola Aina crossed the ball to the far post and Galatasaray net-buster headed it in for the immense joy of the entire Nigeria squad and around 30,000 people at Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo!Osimhen perfect diving header !🇳🇬 Nigeria 1-0 Zimbabwe 🇿🇼pic.twitter.com/zC1W7BX3v9— Goals Xtra (@GoalsXtra) March 25, 2025 ⚽️ GOAL: Chirewa🇳🇬 Nigeria 1-1 Zimbabwe 🇿🇼pic.twitter.com/y5aKsyUwow— Goals Xtra (@GoalsXtra) March 25, 2025 Yet, everything could have been in vain only two minutes later, when Nwabali made a terrible mistake and Musonda hit the bar, shooting at empty net?! Still, it was only the introduction into a “horror” the Super Eagles suffered when Tawanda Chirewa levelled in the 91st minute, probably crushing Nigeria’s World Cup dreams!Chelle’s team now sits six points behind the table toppers, South Africa, and will have to fight for the second position against Benin, Rwanda, and Lesotho.2026 WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS – AFRICASaturday Togo – Mauritania 2-2 (1-0)/Klidje 4, Denkey 69 – Koita 52, Mahmoud 55/Sudan – Senegal 0-0Sunday Eswatini – Mauritius 3-3 (2-0)/Mkhontfo 13, 18, Mabuza 75 – Rose 47, Aristide 50, Vincent 90+1/Kenya – Gabon 1-2 (0-1)/Olunga 62 – Aubameyang 16, 52 pen/Monday Namibia – Equatorial Guinea 1-1 (0-0)/Shalulile 51 – Coco 54/Central African Republic – Mali 0-0Guinea B. – Burkina Faso 1-2 (1-1)/Banjaqui 36 – Traore L. 6, 73/Liberia – Sao Tome 2-1 (2-1)/Andrews 4, Farkarlun 32 – Do Sacramento 44/Ivory Coast – Gambia 1-0 (1-0)/Haller 15/Madagascar – Ghana 0-3 (0-1)/Partey 11, 54, Kudus 59/Ethiopia – Djibouti 6-1 (3-0)/Desta 19, 52, 70 pen, Nasir 34, 37, 58 pen – Akinbinu 51/Tunisia – Malawi 2-0 (0-0)/Jaziri 86, Achouri 90+2/TuesdayAngola – Cape Verde 1-2 (0-1)/Gelson Dala 50 – Rocha Livramento 45+2, 63/Benin – S.Africa 0-2 (0-0)/Foster 53, Adams 84/Nigeria – Zimbabwe 1-1 (0-0)/Osimhen 74 – Chirewa 90+1/Rwanda – Lesotho 1-1 (0-0)/Kwizera 58 – Fothoane 82/Uganda – Guinea 1-0 (1-0)/Okello 36/22.00 (1.30) Botswana (5.00) Somalia (12.00)22:00: (1.10) Burundi (10.5) Seychelles (22.0)22:00: (1.35) Cameroon (4.60) Libya (10.5)22:00: (1.17) Egypt (7.25) Sierra Leone (17.0)22:00: (1.35) Sudan (4.60) South Sudan (10.5)00:00: (1.38) Algeria (4.40) Mozambique (10.0)00:00: (1.17) Comores (7.50) Chad (16.0)00:00: (3.20) Mauritania (2.80) Dr Congo (2.60)00:00: (1.30) Senegal (5.20) Togo (11.0)00:30: (1.12) Morocco (9.50) Tanzania (19.0)***odds are subject to changes***
