In a disappointing turn of events for the Super Eagles, Nigeria’s national football team, fans have once again voiced their discontent following a lackluster performance against Zimbabwe in the 2026 World Cup qualifier. The PUNCH reports that the team, led by coach Jose Peseiro, struggled to a 1-1 draw against the Warriors in the second game of the qualifiers, prompting criticisms from disappointed supporters.
Despite making six changes from their previous game against Lesotho, including handing a debut to Nathan Tella, the alterations failed to bring about the desired impact as the Eagles now find themselves with only two points out of a possible six. The draw against Zimbabwe follows a similarly uninspiring result in their first game against Lesotho.
The match against Zimbabwe saw the Eagles on the back foot, unlike their previous encounter where they dominated. Zimbabwe took the lead in the 26th minute after Francis Uzoho, the Nigerian goalkeeper, couldn’t stop Walter Musona’s 35-yard free-kick. This setback put the Eagles under pressure, limiting them to just two shots in the first half.
At halftime, Peseiro made three strategic changes, introducing Bright Osayi-Samuel, Kelechi Iheanacho, and Victor Boniface. While Iheanacho managed to equalize in the 67th minute, the Eagles couldn’t secure a winning goal despite an additional nine minutes of play.
The fans, expressing their frustration on social media, did not hold back in their criticism. Some called for the coach’s removal, citing what they perceived as a lack of ambition and poor performance. Others, like Alagbe Samson, highlighted missed opportunities by Zimbabwe and urged the coaching crew to better prepare the team for future matches.
Notably, the team currently sits second in the qualifying group with two points, trailing behind South Africa. The 2026 World Cup qualifiers are set to resume in June 2024, with Nigeria hosting the current group leaders, Bafana Bafana, before an away game against Benin Republic.
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