Former Real Madrid midfielder Mutiu Adepoju has pinpointed poor game management as the key reason behind Nigeria’s frustrating 1-1 draw with Zimbabwe in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

The Super Eagles looked set for victory at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium after Victor Osimhen struck in the 74th minute, capitalizing on numerous wasted chances earlier in the game. However, defensive lapses saw substitute Tawanda Chirewa snatch an injury-time equalizer for Zimbabwe, leaving Nigeria in fourth place in the group standings with just six points—a major setback in their quest for World Cup qualification.

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Speaking to Flashscore, Adepoju admitted that while the team performed decently, their inability to close out the match proved costly.

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“We were on track after our win in Rwanda, but this result set us back. If we had won, we’d have had nine points. Now we only have six. The boys didn’t play badly, but poor game management at the end cost us the result,” he said.

With South Africa leading the group, the Super Eagles now face an uphill task in securing a World Cup ticket, making their next fixtures must-win encounters.