Eric Chelle began his tenure as the head coach of the Super Eagles with a victory and will be eager to maintain that momentum in his first home match against Zimbabwe on Tuesday.
This match presents an opportunity for Nigeria to strengthen their position in the group. Below are predictions, team updates, betting insights, and potential line-ups for the encounter.
Nigeria climbed to fourth place in Group C with six points after an impressive away win in Rwanda, where Victor Osimhen’s brace sealed a historic victory.
At the top of the group, South Africa leads with 10 points, followed by Benin with eight, while Rwanda sits in third place with seven points.
With South Africa and Benin set to face off in their next fixture, Nigeria has a chance to close the gap by securing three points against Zimbabwe in Uyo.
Zimbabwe, on the other hand, played out a 2-2 draw against Benin on Thursday, coming from behind to salvage a point. However, they remain at the bottom of the group standings.
Historically, Nigeria has dominated this fixture, having faced Zimbabwe six times without defeat. The Super Eagles have won four of those encounters, with the remaining two ending in draws.
However, recent meetings have been more competitive, with the last two fixtures ending in stalemates. One of those was a friendly match, while the other was the first-leg encounter in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Victor Osimhen, who found the net in Nigeria’s last match, has now moved up to second place on Nigeria’s all-time top scorers list. He will be eager to add more goals to his tally as he continues his chase of the legendary Rashidi Yekini, who holds the record with 37 goals.
In Nigeria’s previous match, Chelle utilized his preferred 4-3-1-2 formation, deploying Osimhen and Moses Simon in attack, while Ademola Lookman operated behind them in a creative role.
Given the success of this setup, Chelle is expected to retain the same tactical approach for the upcoming match against Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe arrived in Nigeria early following their draw against Benin, giving them additional time to rest and prepare. Their head coach, Michael Nees, is likely to stick with the same lineup from their last outing.
Predicted Lineups
Nigeria (4-4-2)
Goalkeeper: Nwabali
Defenders: Aina, Troost-Ekong, Bassey, Onyemaechi
Midfielders: Ndidi, Chukwueze, Iwobi, Lookman
Forwards: Osimhen, Simon
Zimbabwe (4-2-3-1)
Goalkeeper: Arubi
Defenders: Jalai, Garan’anga, Takwara, Lunga
Midfielders: Rinomhota, Munetsi
Attacking Midfielders: Zemura, Billiat, Musona
Forward: Chirewa
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