Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the 2026 World Cup Qualification match.
As the second round of CAF World Cup qualifiers resumes, both Nigeria and Zimbabwe find themselves outside the automatic qualification places, with work to do in the race for the 2026 finals. While Nigeria are edging closer to the top two, Zimbabwe are bottom of the group – but the margins are tight, and the stakes are high.
Nigeria
Nigeria finally got off the mark with a first win in this qualifying campaign, beating Rwanda (2:0) away. That lifted them to five points – just two behind second-placed Benin. However, their earlier struggles have left little room for error. A shock defeat to Benin (1:2) in the group stage has further complicated their path. Consistency remains an issue for the Nigerian side, who have talent in abundance but haven’t yet found their rhythm in the qualifiers.
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe may sit bottom of the group, but they’re no pushovers. Ranked 121st by FIFA, they’ve fared better than some higher-ranked rivals and have secured qualification for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations. Zimbabwe drew (1:1) in the first leg against Nigeria and recently fought to a 2:2 draw with Benin, sealed by a captain’s goal from star midfielder Marshall Munetsi. Munetsi is now playing regularly for Wolverhampton, having completed an €18 million winter transfer from Reims.
Nigeria vs Zimbabwe Prediction
Nigeria’s recent results don’t inspire confidence in an easy victory against a solid mid-table side. Even if the Zimbabweans lose, it will likely be by a narrow margin.
