2026 World Cup Qualifiers: Iheanacho Rescues Woeful Eagles Again
It’s Zimbabwe 1-1 Nigeria in Rwanda
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is looking bleak by the minute for Nigeria as the Super Eagles continue their lacklustre showing in the qualifying series of the competition on Sunday.
Playing their second match of the Group C qualifiers, the Eagles failed to shine against Zimbabwe by coming from behind to hold the Southern African nation to a one-all draw in far away Hure Stadium in Bature, Rwanda.
In failing to return to winning ways, the Eagles, who are already walking on a tightrope following their disappointing opening group draw against minnows Lesotho in Uyo, fell behind the Warriors after the heavily criticised Keeper Francis Uzoho was beaten by long-range shot.
The National team’s current first-choice shot-stopper, Uzoho, continued his poor streak of games for the Super Eagles as he allowed Coach Baltemar Bito’s men to shockingly go ahead after about half an hour of play when Walter Musona unleashed a ferocious free kick that beat him from 30 yards out.
The goal capped an impressive defensive display from the Warriors while the Eagles looked ordinary again searching for an equalizer. However, Kelechi Iheanacho came to the rescue in the 67th minute after a nice over-the-top pass from Joe Aribor to Moses Simon who laid it for the Leicester City forward to guide home and earn the Eagles another point.
Despite the draw, the Nigerians remain second in Group C of the World Cup qualifying series, a point behind South Africa while Zimbabwe stay in third.
Bafana Bafana beat Benin Republic in their group opener on Saturday in Pretoria, and the pressure on is now Jose Peseiro’s men to close ranks in their next round of matches that would be coming up next year.
