Warriors face Nigeria in high-stakes World Cup qualifier match: All you need to know

Fungai Muderere

The Warriors will play Nigeria this evening at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium on Matchday 6 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers Group C match.

Kick-off is at 6 pm.

Media coverage

SuperSport TV on DStv has confirmed that it will show the game live.

The FIFA Plus App will also stream the game live, while heraldonline.co.zw will give you blow-by-blow updates of the game.

ZBC TV and SABC Sport are yet to confirm in their TV guide.

Match officials:

Eritrean officials will take charge.

Teklu Mogos Tsegay will be the centre referee, while compatriots Michael Eyobel and Sirak Samuel Mengis will be the first and second assistants respectively.

Mohammed Osman, also from Eritrea, will be the fourth official.

Ghanaian Prosper Harrison Addo will be the commissioner while Paulin Ilboudo from Burkina Faso will serve as referee’s assessor.

What the coaches said

Nigeria’s Eric Chelle: “We need to be ready for this game. I prefer to focus on my team rather than discussing weaknesses. My priority is analysing and improving.”

Warriors’ Michael Nees: “Nigeria is at the absolute top level. We cannot allow a slow start to the game to happen. We must be there from the beginning of our game. Our concentration must be there.”

Team news:

There are no changes for both sides in their squads that played last week on Matchday 5 of the qualifiers.

However, Bright Osayi-Samuel remains a doubt starter for the Super Eagles after suffering a leg injury in their match against Rwanda.

Form guide

Nigeria heads into the match sitting on position four, with one win from five games.

The Super Eagles’ only victory in the qualifiers came last week against Rwanda, where Victor Osimhen’s brace secured the victory.

Zimbabwe is at the bottom of Group C, having failed to win any of their five matches so far.

They drew 2-2 against Benin last Thursday.

Head to head

Nigeria have dominated the fixture for over four decades now.

The only time the Warriors defeated the Super Eagles was in an international friendly back in 1981.

The recent fixture, played in November 2023, ended in a 1-1 draw.