Zimbabwe coach Baltemar Brito believes his team should have won the match against the highly skilled Super Eagles, following a 1-1 draw with Nigeria during the 2026 World Cup qualifier at Huye Stadium on Sunday.
The Nigerian team, managed by Jose Peseiro, displayed a disappointing performance, struggling to secure a 1-1 draw against the Warriors in their second qualifying game.
This result means that the Eagles have only accumulated two points out of a possible six, as their first match ended in a draw against the lower-ranked Lesotho side at Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Thursday.
Zimbabwe dominated the game against Nigeria, with Walter Musona’s 35-yard free-kick finding the back of the net in the 26th minute, giving them the lead.
This goal boosted Brito’s team’s confidence, and they successfully contained the Eagles’ threats, limiting them to only two shots in the first half.
Nigeria’s Kelechi Iheanacho managed to equalize in the 67th minute, resulting in both teams settling for a draw in Rwanda.
“They (Nigeria) are good; of course, we started the game to win. We expected to win the game. Unfortunately, we drew, but we had ambitions of winning the game,” Brito said after the game.
“The result of the game comes from the atmosphere that we’ve had from this camping. Since day one, we have felt positive vibes between the technical staff and the players.
“The players came here with open hearts to represent the country. They fought too much today, and this good performance is just about them.”
