The Zimbabwe Warriors will be looking to get their first win over Nigeria in 44 years when the two teams clash in a 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifier in Uyo on Tuesday.
One has to go as far back as 1981 to find the only time that the Warriors scored a victory over their West African opponents, a friendly match at home.
And since then the two teams have met seven times with the Super Eagles winning four of those matches while three ended in a draw.
Zimbabwe have visited Nigeria for competitive matches only twice in the Afcon qualifiers in 1989 and World Cup qualifiers in 2005, losing 3 – 0 and 5 – 1 respectively.
In 2019, ahead of the Afcon finals the Warriors passed through Nigeria for a friendly match, which ended in a 0 – 0 stalemate.
This time around the two teams are in a race for a World Cup ticket after Zimbabwe were held 2 – 2 by Benin on Thursday while Nigeria got a morale boosting 2 - 0 win away in Rwanda on Friday.
Zimbabwe coach Michael Nees, who refuses to throw in the towel with regards to the team’s chances of making it to the next World Cup, spoke highly of Nigeria’s firepower especially upfront.
“Nigeria in attack is definitely in the top five in the world. Top five in the world when you look at the players that they have at their disposal, it's massive. But sometimes the names don’t automatically make a big performance. But they play tomorrow (Friday) in Rwanda. And I can tell you they always struggle in Rwanda very often,” he told journalists after the Benin game.
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“But of course Nigeria is, from the players, absolute top level. We cannot allow that (a slow start to the game) to happen again. We must be there from the beginning in our game. Our concentration must be there because the goals (against Benin), when you look at it, were a little bit gifted from us.
“The first, we don't need to talk about it and the second, we were really a bit sleeping there.Not winning the duel properly in the midfield and then sleeping. And then they combined very quickly and suddenly it was the ball in the goal. Nobody really could anticipate it.,” he added.
The Warriors went 2 – 0 down in the first half against Benin after a howler by Washington Arubi gave the visitors the lead before doubling the score with a team goal.
Marshall Munetsi and Knowledge Musona, who came out of retirement scored to help Zimbabwe snatch a point.
With the Warriors bottom of Group C with three points from five matches, seven behind leaders South Africa, Nees refuses to give up the fight for the World Cup ticket.
"Nobody can predict anything. As a sportsperson, you have to fight until the end because everybody wants a fair competition. That's number one. If you don't do that, you shouldn't play football. Second, the group is not decided yet. There's still 15 points to play for and we must take every game seriously,” he said.
Nees started returning former captain Musona who went on to score the equaliser while diminutive Dynamos fullback back also got his first start for the Warriors.
Italy based Jordan Zemura played further afield on the left side and delivered two assists, with Munesti and Andy Rinomhota doing well in the midfield.
Prince Dube, who plays in Tanzania, started in the striker’s position but had to be taken off at the break for Tawanda Chirewa, who gave a good account of himself.
It awaits to be seen if Nees will put faith in the same starting lineup against the three time African champions powered highly rated striker Victor Osimhen who scored a brace against Rwanda.
Chirewa, who can get the nod to start against Super Eagles believes Zimbabwe has no reason to fear Nigeria.
“I am just looking at recovery and going again on Tuesday against Nigeria, which is a very good team. A lot of players play in England and Europe. Obviously I want to go out there and show what I can do. Our team has got so many good players as well so we can’t fear Nigeria. Today when we started playing in the second half Benin couldn’t contain us,” he said.
The match, which will be played at Godswill Akpabio Stadium will kickoff at 6pm.
