Sports
World Cup Qualifier:Zimbabwe Coach Disappointed with Draw Against Nigeria
Following a 1-1 draw with Nigeria during the 2026 World Cup qualifier at Huye Stadium on Sunday, Zimbabwe coach Baltemar Brito expressed his disappointment, stating that his team had the potential to defeat the star-studded Super Eagles.
Despite a lackluster performance from the Eagles, they managed to secure a draw against the Warriors in the second game of the qualifiers.
The match saw Walter Musona of Zimbabwe score a remarkable 35-yard free-kick in the 26th minute, giving his team the lead. Inspired by the goal, Brito’s side contained Nigeria’s threat and restricted them to just two shots in the first half.
However, Kelechi Iheanacho managed to equalize for Nigeria in the 67th minute, resulting in a draw.
In a post-match interview, Brito confidently affirmed that his team had come into the encounter with the intention of securing a victory. Despite not achieving their goal, he commended his players for their positive attitude and performance throughout the match.
While Nigeria currently sits in second place with two points, one point behind leaders South Africa, Zimbabwe stands in third place with the same number of points as Nigeria. The 2026 World Cup qualifiers will resume in June 2024, with Nigeria set to host South Africa, followed by an away game against Benin Republic.
The draw against Zimbabwe leaves Nigeria’s Super Eagles with just two points from their first two qualifiers. In their previous match, they played out another disappointing 1-1 draw against Lesotho, considered a low-ranked team.
The performances in both games have raised concerns among fans and critics alike, highlighting the need for improvement. Coach Jose Peseiro and his coaching staff will now have to assess and address the team’s shortcomings in preparation for their future matches.
With South Africa currently leading Group C with three points, Nigeria faces an uphill battle to secure a top spot and advance to the next stage of the World Cup qualifiers. The upcoming fixtures against South Africa and Benin Republic will be crucial in determining the team’s fate in the competition.
The draw against Zimbabwe serves as a wake-up call for the Super Eagles, who will have to regroup and show a stronger performance in their upcoming matches. The coaching staff will be expected to analyze the team’s tactics, player selection, and overall strategy to ensure better results moving forward.
As the qualifying campaign progresses, fans will be eagerly watching to see if Nigeria can bounce back from their disappointing start and demonstrate their potential as a strong footballing nation. The pressure is mounting, and the team must prove their worth on the field in the coming matches to keep their World Cup dreams alive.
The chances of four key players of the Super Eagles playing in the upcoming friendly game against Ghana at the four-team tournament in England are looking very slim, as revealed by OwnGoalNigeria.com.
The first match of the Super Eagles in the four-team tournament comes up on the 29th of May against the Black Stars of Ghana, a day after the game opener, which will be Trinidad and Tobago vs Jamaica.
The date of the game is too sudden for four key members of the team, who will at that time still be involved with their clubs, raising the possibility of missing the game and probably the tournament.
The players who may be absent from the game are Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Maduka Okoye, and Samuel Chukwueze.
Osimhen will play his last game of the season on the 1st of June, two days before the Super Eagles’ first game of the tournament, which means he won’t be available until he is released by Galatasaray.
Also, Lookman will play his last club game for the Italian side, Atalanta, on the 25th of May, four days before the start of the tournament, and the earliest he can arrive will be around the 26th or 27th. More so, his club also wants the player to take the summer off and be fit for the next season, as he is presently battling to be at his best due to injuries.
Due to club loyalty, goalkeeper Okoye of Udinese and Chukwueze of AC Milan are also said to be considering not featuring in the tournament.
Tragedy struck in Ilorin, Kwara state capital following a 30-minute rainstorm which occurred on Monday.
An Ilorin-born Taekwondo coach and champion, identified as Musa Ismail, has been killed in a rainstorm at a badminton court in the Lower Niger River Basin Authority, in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital.
According to eyewitness accounts, a section of the newly renovated Badminton court executed by the former administration collapsed and fell on the coach.
The badminton court was completely destroyed by the 30-minute rainstorm.
Ismail, who was described as an upcoming and amiable badminton coach by some of his trainees, was said to have been crowned as the 2025 MKA Taekwondo Championship held in Ede, Osun state.
He was said to have been married for more than a year and was survived by a child.
Our correspondent gathered that Ismail played and trained at the facility with friends before the incident occurred.
Findings at the agency in Ilorin on Tuesday showed that the court had been sealed with the collapsed section visible from outside the structure.
Employees of the agency were not forthcoming when approached on the development.
Efforts to reach the leadership of the agency on the incident also proved abortive as of press time.
A member of staff, who pleaded anonymity, said that the incident happened on Monday, though the victim was not an employee of the agency.
“The incident is very tragic, it happened unfortunately during the rain on Monday but no one can speak on it except the managing director who is not around now.
“The MD will be in the office tomorrow and if you come, you will be able to speak with him,” the employee said.
Former Super Eagles Striker and Coach, Samson Siasia is set to lead the fitness program, Walkers & Joggers Lifestyle Groove which is set to take center stage at the mainbowl of the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja in May.
The event, aimed at promoting regular physical activity for participants to improve the overall well-being will have the Nigerian 1994 Nations cup winner, headlining the event. Alongside the football legend is Dr. Adeline Shuri, a renowned expert in mental health.
According to the organisers of the event, walking and jogging are two of the most accessible and effective ways to improve physical and mental health.
“One of the SYDA mandates is to promote sporting activities while assisting the government in maintaining and upgrading our sports facilities.
“The program is for every fitness enthusiast in the city of Abuja. We are looking to use this event to introduce a healthy lifestyle while making it entertaining for everyone.
This event will promote physical activity, healthy lifestyles, and community engagement,” said Segun Maku, the CEO of SYDA Lounge.
“While Mr. Siasia handles the physical aspect of things, Dr. Shuri will provide valuable insights and guidance on maintaining good mental health, which is essential for overall well-being,” he added.
The Walking and Jogging Initiative is an intiative of the Sports and Youth Development Academy (SYDA) to prioritise physical and mental health, towards creating a healthier, happier, and more productive society.