In a 2026 FIFA World Cup Group C qualifier at Huye Stadium, Butare, Rwanda, Nigeria’s football star, Alex Iwobi, praised the Zimbabwe Warriors for their adept tactics in a hard-fought battle.
Despite the Super Eagles starting as favourites, Zimbabwe’s Walter Musona scored a brilliant freekick, securing an early lead, which Kelechi Ihenacho nullified just after the hour mark.
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“We have to give credit to them,” Iwobi, currently with Fulham, said. “Of course, it is easy for them when they get the first goal, so they can just sit back and defend.”
The former Arsenal star acknowledged the Zimbabwe Warriors solid defensive tactics, emphasizing their ability to disrupt Nigeria’s tempo.
“And of course, they have the tactics to try and waste time and disrupt our tempo, so it favoured them.
But yeah, credit to them, they are a good side but with the players we have, we should have done much better.”
In a reflective analysis, Iwobi notes the disparity in performance between the two halves and encourages fans to remain supportive.
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“The first half wasn’t good enough for us. The second half was better, so we must look at that, analyze and see where we can do better,” Iwobi stated.
Expressing the travel challenges faced by the Nigerian team, including a four-hour flight followed by a three-hour road trip.”The travel was a lot for us,” Iwobi admitted.
Despite the challenging journey, he refrained from using it as an excuse, stating, “We are professional enough and we have lots of quality in the side.”
Expressing disappointment with two consecutive draws in their World Cup qualifiers, Iwobi reassured fans of the team’s commitment to overcoming challenges and qualifying for the World Cup.
“Of course, we are disappointed because of the players we have. Nigeria is a country with many quality players, so we should be able to get more points on the scoreboard and more goals.”
Nigeria’s next World Cup qualifier is against South Africa in June next year.
