Following a 1-1 draw with Lesotho’s Crocodiles in Uyo last week Thursday, Super Eagles coach and players have quietly committed to facing the remaining nine matches of the qualification series with a much stronger mentality, with victory in each match the only option.
The three-time African champions will clash with the Warriors of Zimbabwe in Rwanda – Zimbabwe’s adopted home in day 2 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup African qualification series today at the Huye Stadium.
The 20,000-capacity Huye Stadium has an artificial turf, but the Eagles have voiced a collective decision not to be bothered about the playing turf as they seek the maximum three points.
Zimbabwe’s start to their 2026 World Cup qualification journey was quite impressive. After emerging from an 18-month FIFA ban, they managed to secure a goalless draw against Rwanda at Butare’s Huye Stadium.
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Although Zimbabwe is ranked 125th in the latest FIFA World Rankings and have won just one out of their last 15 games, with nine defeats and five draws.
Nigeria has had the upper hand in their previous encounters, with four wins, two draws, and just one loss in six games. They even had a dominant 8-1 aggregate win against Zimbabwe during the 2006 World Cup qualifying series.
Victory today will take the Super Eagles to four points with the campaign one-fifth of the way gone.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s U20 girls, Falconets will go up against their Tanzanian counterparts in a 2024 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup African qualifying series second round, second leg encounter at the MKO Abiola National Stadium today.
Both teams battled to a one-goal draw in the first leg match played at the Azam Sports Complex in Tanzania’s commercial and industrial capital, Dar es Salaam on Sunday last week, with substitute Chioma Olise putting Nigeria in front in the 57th minute.
Nigeria has been ever-present at the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup since the competition was launched as an U19 tournament in Canada 21 years ago.
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