By

Eniola Olatunji 

The Warriors of Zimbabwe may cause the Super Eagles of Nigeria enormous trouble that may go into collateral damage as the two team’s meet in their next world cup qualifier at the God’swill Akpabio Stdaium, Uyo – Nigeria on Tuesday night at 5pm Nigerian time.

The trouble may emerge from an outrageous desperation for a win or at least get a draw from the Warriors that are rocking the bottom of Group C with only three points. 

The Carrot and Stick model offer of the Zimbabwean President, Emmerson Mnangwa offering the players $150,000 for a win over the Super Eagles as announced by the President of the Zambia Football Association (ZIFA), Ngobile Magwize could galvanize violence from the Warriors.

The trouble may now be what we football followers call if you miss the ball, don’t miss the leg, meaning cause injuries to your opponents which Nigeria cannot afford to sustain now. 

The solution will be tiki-taka style of Brazilian football or one touch and pass the ball with serious eyes on Victor Osimhen; Ademola Lookman, Samuel Chuwueze and attacking midfielder, Alex Iwobi who all loves dribble runs.

Nigeria needs clinical finishes in the box and improved headers to make the Warriors of Zimbabwe realize their class. I see three goals floating into the Zimbabwean Nets before the 75th minute of play and Nigeria may get more goals bringing Victor Boniface who plays like a bull and makes late decisions at goal as he may get penalty advantage for Nigeria.

Ref Souleiman Ahmed Djama from Djibouti will be at the centre to be assisted by Liban Abdoulrazack Ahmed; Rachid Waiss Bouraleh and the 4th Ref Mohammed Diraneh Guedi all from Djibouti will take decisions on rough play.

Already the Nigerian Coach, Chelle as rolled out camp orders of no visitors, no audience with Journalists and content creators until after the match. That is Discipline from a man who caged the Rwandans before there 45,000 crowds including their President by disallowing them even a shot at goal.

The Zimbabwean record against the Super Eagles is not impressive. They met five times since 2005 with Nigeria having three wins and scoring 9 goals whereas Zimbabwe has never defeated Nigeria though they scored 2 goals and drew two games one at world cup games. By now, I expect Chelle to have fraternized with Emmamnuel Ammunike who was once their coach. 

On 8th October 2005 Nigeria whipped the Warriors 5-1 at home in the world cup; on 27th January 2006 Nigeria still at home won an AFCON match 2-0; on 1st February 2014 Nigeria won a CHAN match by a lone goal; when a friendly match came up 8th June 2019 it ended goalless and on 19th November 2023 a world cup match played in Zimbabwe ended 1-1.

Nigeria spanked Rwanda 2-0 in Kigali and Zimbabwe forced Benin Republic to 2-2 draw in their last outing on Friday 21st March.

As at Friday night, South Africa leads group C with 10 points scoring 8 goals and conceding 5; Benin is 2nd with 8 points scoring 6 goals and conceding 5; Defeated Rwanda stands at the 3rd position with 7 points scoring 3 goals and conceding 3; Nigeria follows with 6 points scoring 6 goals and conceding 5; Lesotho is 5th with 5 points scoring 3 goals and conceding 4 while Zimbabwe rocks the bottom with 3 points scoring 4 goals and conceding 8. 

Next four matches for Nigeria will be against Rwanda at Uyo on 1st September; Play in South Africa in a crucial match on 8th September; travel to less fancied Lesotho on 6th October and wait for an all-important game against Benin Republic on 13th October.

For Zimbabwe, the team plays Benin away on 1st September; hosts Rwanda on 8th September; hosts South Africa on 6th October and then travel to Lesotho on 13th October. So you see why Zimbabwe will be desperate against Nigeria on Tuesday.

The Zimbabweans ranked 121 in the world and 19th in Africa has never played at the FIFA world cup finals before but appeared at AFCON finals 6 times where they always lose at group stages in 2004; 2006; 2017; 2018 and 2021. The team was six times COSAFA champions, which is their regional game in 2000; 2003; 2005; 2009; 2017 and 2018.

Nigeria is ranked 44 in the world and has appeared at the world cup finals six times reaching the round of 16 in 1994; 1998; and 2014. She has perpetually been to AFCON finals but won three times in, (45 years ago which I covered live); 1994 and 2013.