Victor Osimhen showed visible frustration following Nigeria’s 1-1 draw with Zimbabwe, as the Super Eagles’ World Cup hopes were dealt a major blow.
The Super Eagles were on the verge of securing their second consecutive victory in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers when Osimhen’s header gave them a 1-0 lead.
However, Zimbabwe stunned the home crowd in Uyo when Tawanda Chirewa, on loan from Huddersfield, scored a last-minute equaliser in the 90th minute, poking the ball past Nigerian goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali.
In a video posted by Nigerian journalist, Sulieman Adebayor @Pooja after the game, Osimhen was seen ignoring advances from Boniface who replaced him in the encounter.
The late goal left Nigeria in a precarious position in Group C, six points behind leaders South Africa, who had won 2-0 away against Benin.
With six rounds completed in the 10-match group stage, Nigeria now sits fourth, a point behind Rwanda and Benin, further complicating their path to the 2026 World Cup.
Osimhen’s frustration was evident as he interacted with his teammates post-match, and a particularly cold exchange with Boniface stood out.
Fans on social media quickly picked up on the tension, questioning whether the substitution of Osimhen for Boniface, which had earlier drawn criticism, contributed to the team’s inability to hold onto the lead.
Nigeria, who missed out on qualifying for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, are now facing an uphill battle to secure a spot in the 2026 tournament.
Only the nine group winners will automatically qualify for the expanded 48-team World Cup, while the four best second-placed teams will enter a playoff to secure a place in the intercontinental tournament, which will determine the final spots in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
