The Super Eagles aim to climb to nine points and firmly re-enter the race for a 2026 FIFA World Cup ticket when they take on Zimbabwe’s Warriors in a Matchday 6 qualifiers at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Tuesday.

Ekong: ‘We cannot afford to drop points’

Speaking ahead of the crucial fixture, Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong emphasised the importance of securing all three points, building on their 2-0 win over Rwanda last Friday.

“We are looking forward to a win. The three points are important to us. At this stage, we cannot afford to drop any more points. Our aim is to take it one match at a time, collect three points here and there, and hope fervently that these will be enough to get us the ticket,” Ekong stated on Monday.

After failing to win any of their first four matches, Nigeria was languishing in fifth place in Group C before their victory over Rwanda provided a much-needed boost. With six points, the Super Eagles have climbed to fourth place, while Zimbabwe, with three points, remains bottom of the table.

Zimbabwe arrive in Uyo for a must-win encounter

The 45-man Warriors’ contingent, led by Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) Vice President Kennedy Ndebele, arrived at the Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo, on Friday afternoon.

Match officials and other group fixtures

FIFA has appointed Eritrean referee Teklu Mogos Tsegay to officiate the match, assisted by his compatriots. Ghana’s Prosper Harrison Addo will serve as match commissioner, while Burkina Faso’s Paulin Ilboudo will be the referee assessor.

In other Group C matches: Leaders South Africa (10 points) take on second-placed Benin Republic (8 points) at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan. Lesotho, now in fifth place, will face Rwanda’s Amavubi at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali.

With the race for the top spot heating up, Nigeria will be determined to secure a vital victory that could propel them closer to World Cup qualification.

Head of Sports at BusinessDay Media, a seasoned Digital Content Producer, and FIFA/CAF Accredited Journalist with over a decade of sports reporting.Has a deep understanding of the Nigerian and global sports landscape and skills in delivering comprehensive and insightful sports content.