By Wale Mustapha
Zimbabwe winger Tawanda Chirewa is optimistic that his team can pull off a surprise result against Nigeria in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier on Tuesday in Uyo.
The Warriors will face Eric Chelle’s Super Eagles in what promises to be a challenging encounter for both sides.
Despite a winless run in the qualifiers after five matches, Chirewa remains undeterred and believes Zimbabwe has the quality to compete with the Nigerians.
Speaking ahead of the match, the 21-year-old Huddersfield Town player expressed confidence in his team’s ability to stand up to the Super Eagles. “I am just looking at recovery and going again on Tuesday against Nigeria, which is a very good team. A lot of their players play in England and Europe. Obviously, I want to go out there and show what I can do,” Chirewa said.
“We’ve got so many good players as well, so we can’t fear Nigeria,” he added, stressing that bravery and belief will be key if Zimbabwe are to make a strong challenge in Uyo.
Despite the odds, Chirewa’s words signal that the Warriors are prepared to give their all in pursuit of a positive result.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
