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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As the Warriors of Zimbabwe brace up for the Match Day 6 encounter with Nigeria in the 2026 World Cup qualifying series on Tuesday, one of the players, Rinomhota has already predicted an away win for the team.

The Zimbabwe Warriors have only beaten Nigeria once in eight previous encounters. The solitary win was on August 1, 1981, when the then Nigerian team, Green Eagles visited in preparation for their last World Cup qualifying duel with Algeria for the 1982 World Cup.

Zimbabwe won the match in Harare by 2-0. In subsequent seven matches, Nigeria won four and drew three, including a famous 3-0 away win in 2004 and an overwhelming 5-1 victory in Abuja in 2005.

 The heatwave in Uyo has added to the heat being encountered by the bottom-placed Zimbabwe who have been without a win in the 2026 World Cup qualifying series.

According to one of Zimbabwe’s newspapers, The Herald, the

Warriors on Sunday trained under punishingly hot and humid conditions as they continued acclimatising to the sweltering climate here in Uyo.

They chose the hottest part of the day for their session and they took regular hydration breaks as they endured the intense heat at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium’s training ground.

According to the publication, temperatures in Uyo peaked at 32°C, with 40 percent humidity and a minimal wind speed of 6km/h – conditions that will persist during Tuesday’s match.

The forecast for kickoff, scheduled for 5pm Zimbabwean time (6pm local), predicts 33°C with 42 percent humidity.

 With the sun expected to set just seven minutes before full-time, players will compete under similarly harsh conditions.

Midfielder Andy Rinomhota, who made his debut in the reverse fixture last November, said the Warriors were adapting well.

“I think it’s going to be quite warm and humid. We’re preparing ourselves, even though the games later.

“We had similar conditions against Cameroon last year in the AFCON qualifiers,” Rinomhota said.

“We’re trying to start the game well. Everyone is focused on acclimatising fully. The conditions are definitely on everyone’s mind.”

Rinomhota believes Zimbabwe can claim an away win, despite sitting at the bottom of Group C with just three points.

“We’re optimistic. We got a result against Nigeria last time, even though it was technically a home game in Rwanda.

“That was my first game – it was a big test, and the team did well to draw.

“This time, we want to go a step further. We respect Nigeria, but not too much. We’ll try to impose ourselves. We’ve come here to get a result and keep pushing towards our goal.”

The Cardiff City midfielder is encouraged by the growing chemistry in the squad.

“I think we’re building momentum and getting games together, and I’m confident we’ll do well.”

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As Nigeria’s Super Eagles gear up for their crucial World Cup qualifier against Zimbabwe in Uyo on Tuesday evening, Lead sponsor – Nigerian Breweries Plc, through its brands—Goldberg, Life Continental, and Zagg Energy Drink—is set to further energize the team by recognizing the game’s standout performer with the ‘Man of the Match’ award. 

The initiative, dubbed “Operation Super Eagles Sustain the Tempo”, underscores the brands’ commitment to Nigerian football and their desire to keep the team motivated throughout the qualifying campaign. 

The Portfolio Manager, Mainstream Lager Brands at Nigerian Breweries Plc, Olaoluwa Babalola, highlighted the significance of the initiative. 

“Goldberg, Life Continental, and Zagg Energy Drink are deeply rooted in Nigerian culture, embodying values of strength, unity, and determination.

“Football is a unifying force in Nigeria, and this initiative is our way of celebrating the players who give their all for the badge. We want to see the Super Eagles dominate, and we believe this recognition will serve as extra motivation,” Babalola remarked. 

Speaking on the partnership, Wasiu Ola Abiola, Head of Digital, Brand Media PR, and Sponsorships at Nigerian Breweries Plc, emphasised the company’s dedication to supporting Nigerian football at all levels. 

“The Super Eagles are a source of national pride, and we believe in fuelling their passion with the energy and resilience that our brands represent. Through this ‘Man of the Match’ award, we aim to recognise excellence on the pitch while inspiring the players to keep pushing for success,” Abiola stated. 

This partnership comes at a time when the Super Eagles are in a crucial phase of their World Cup qualification journey, with every game playing a pivotal role in their bid for a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. 

This initiative continues Nigerian Breweries’ long-standing tradition of backing Nigerian sports. Over the years, the company has been involved in various sponsorship deals across the national teams to grassroots football programs, strengthening its connection with the game and its passionate fans. 

The brands of Nigerian Breweries Plc on February 1st, 2018 officially entered a sponsorship deal with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), for all the national teams including the women.

Since then, all the grades of the national team have had huge followership comparable to the football fan base of prominent clubs in Europe.

With the likes of Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, and Samuel Chukwueze among the squad, the competition for the Man of the Match award promises to be intense.

The winner will receive a cash prize of One million naira with additional brand rewards to mark their performance. 

As the Super Eagles take on Zimbabwe in Uyo, Nigerian fans can look forward to not just an exciting match but also the continued support of homegrown brands championing Nigerian football excellence.

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