World Cup
2026 World Cup Race: “We have zero option”, declares Troost-Ekong
The Super Eagles expect to rise to nine points and be fully back into contention for a 2026 FIFA World Cup ticket after Tuesday’s African Qualification Series Matchday 6 encounter against the Warriors of Zimbabwe at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo.
Team captain William Ekong reiterated on Monday afternoon that the three-time African champions will seek to control the game the way they did the encounter with Rwanda in Kigali on Friday, and then work hard to get the goals that will give them the three points and fully establish them as one of the contenders for the ticket.
“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.”
Without a win in their first four games of the series, Nigeria languished in fifth place in the six-team group C and remained in a perilous situation, until Friday’s robust win over Rwanda in Kigali threw them up as a proposition for the ticket to the finals.
Nigeria, with six points, moved up to fourth position, while Zimbabwe, on three, prop up the table, and will seek to increase their haul in Tuesday’s encounter.
The Warriors’ 45-man contingent, led by the ZIFA Vice President, Kennedy Ndebele, landed at the Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo on Friday afternoon, 85 minutes after the arrival of the Super Eagles’ contingent from Kigali.
While the Warriors trained at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium on Sunday morning, the Super Eagles trained at the same venue in the evening.
Leaders South Africa, on 10 points, square up to second-placed Benin Republic, on eight points, at the Stade Félix Houphouet-Boigny in Abidjan in a match starting simultaneously with that of Uyo.
Lesotho, now in fifth place following their defeat by South Africa on Friday, will tackle Rwanda’s Amavubi at Kigali’s Amahoro Stadium in the last match of group C.
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Eritrean referee, Teklu Mogos Tsegay will be at the centre when the Nigeria Super Eagles host Zimbabwe Warriors in Uyo on Tuesday. The match will be the third in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers that Tsegay will be officiating.
He was the centre referee in Lesotho’s goalless draw with Benin Republic and Mozambique’s 2-1 defeat of Somalia.
Years back, he officiated Enugu Rangers’ 2-1 defeat of Lesotho’s Bantu FC in the 2019/20 Confederation Cup duel which the Nigerian side won 2-1.
In the qualification series for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, he officiated in two matches – Chad’s 2-0 home loss to Cote d’Ivoire and the 1-1 draw of Comoros Islands versus Tunisia.
One certainty is that he is a no-nonsense referee as his yellow cards are always handy. In the two 2025 Afcon qualifying matches, he issued eight yellow cards.
When he officiated the Mozambique versus Somalia World Cup qualifying match, the Mozambicans got two yellow cards while Somalia had two double cautions that turned to expulsion while two other players got yellow cards.
In the Lesotho versus Benin World Cup qualifying match, a player on each side got a yellow card.
This call for caution on the players as Referee Tsegay asserts his authority. He will be assisted by compatriots, Eyobel Michael and Mengis Sirak Samuel. Ghanaian Prosper Harrison Addo will be the commissioner while Paulin Ilboudo from Burkina Faso will serve as referee assessor.
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The General Secretary of NFF, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, has confirmed that the first 500 persons to buy match tickets for Tuesday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match between Nigeria and Zimbabwe at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo will get a Super Eagles’ home jersey.
“We are calling on Nigerians to come out in large numbers to support the Super Eagles on Tuesday. The team needs the support.
“When we played Rwanda in Kigali on Friday, the Rwandans filled up the Amahoro Stadium to its full capacity. Let our people also come out in throngs and cheer the Eagles.
“We are also appealing to fans to come to the stadium in Nigerian colours. Let us fill up the stadium in green and white colours, and drum and dance to support the team.”
The NFF has also confirmed that match tickets will be available for sale on match day, with the VIP tickets going for N3000 and the regular seats for the sum of N1000 each.
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Corporate partners of the Nigeria Football Federation have joined the race to provide incentives for the Super Eagles to go all out for the three points when they take on the Warriors of Zimbabwe in Tuesday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup African Qualification Series Matchday 6 encounter at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo.
Nigerian Breweries, through their brands Goldberg, Life Continental and Zagg Energy drink are sponsoring the Man-of-the-match award for the sum of one million naira. The dummy cheque will be presented to the winner right on the pitch immediately after the final whistle.
On their part, Carloha, the official automobile company of the NFF and the National Teams, will sponsor the Chery Most Valuable Player award, also for the sum of one million naira. The dummy cheque for the amount will equally be presented to the winner on the pitch after the match.
Sports journalists attending Tuesday’s match will be saddled with the task of picking the man of the match as well as the Most Valuable Player.
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