In a dramatic turn of events at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium on Tuesday, Zimbabwe’s Tawanda Chirewa scored a last-gasp equalizer in the 90th minute to secure a 1-1 draw against Nigeria in their Group C World Cup qualifier, thwarting the Super Eagles’ hopes of claiming victory in front of a packed crowd.
Nigeria had taken the lead in the 73rd minute when Victor Osimhen expertly headed in a pinpoint cross from Ola Aina. The goal came after substitute Tolu Arokodare, who entered the match in the 59th minute for Samuel Chukwueze, held up the ball and fed Aina, whose delivery found Osimhen unmarked at the far post. The Super Eagles, dominating possession throughout the match, seemed poised to clinch all three points.
Despite their control, Nigeria squandered several chances to seal the win. In the 83rd minute, Wilfred Ndidi fluffed a golden opportunity set up by Moses Simon, firing wide of the target. Shortly after, Osimhen, hampered by cramp, was replaced by Victor Boniface, leaving the hosts vulnerable in the final stages.
Zimbabwe nearly capitalized earlier in the 76th minute when Walter Musona’s shot rattled the crossbar following a defensive error between goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali and his backline. Their persistence paid off in stoppage time as Chirewa exploited a lapse in Nigeria’s defense, slipping through and toe-poking the ball past Nwabali to snatch a vital point for the visitors.
The draw denied Nigeria a chance to climb to second in Group C, leaving them in third place after Lesotho’s late equalizer against Rwanda in a separate match.