Super Eagles player ratings: Troost-Ekong, Nwabali exposed; Ola Aina not bad; Osimhen headmaster

The Super Eagles failed to secure all three points as Zimbabwe snatched a late equalizer in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier in Uyo.

Here’s how the Nigerian players performed:

The starters

Goalkeeper

Stanley Nwabali – Made a crucial save to deny Musona late on but could have done better in organizing his defense for Zimbabwe’s equalizer. 4.5/10

Defenders

Williams Troost-Ekong  – Lacked pace and lost focus in the dying minutes, allowing Zimbabwe to capitalize. 3/10

Calvin Bassey  – Strong in duels and comfortable on the ball but was part of a defensive lapse that cost Nigeria two points. 6/10

Ola Aina – Provided the assist for Osimhen’s goal with a brilliant cross and was solid defensively. One of Nigeria’s best performers. 7/10

Bright Osayi-Samuel  – Got forward well but lacked precision in the final third. Defensively, he held his own but was caught out of position at times. 6/10

Midfielders and forwards

Wilfred Ndidi  – Controlled the midfield for most of the game but missed a huge chance to put Nigeria 2-0 up. His wastefulness proved costly. 6.5/10

Alex Iwobi – Tried to dictate the tempo in midfield but was unable to create clear-cut chances before being substituted. 6/10

Moses Simon  – Showed flashes of brilliance but failed to deliver decisive moments. His final pass was inconsistent. 6/10

Samuel Chukwueze – Struggled to make an impact and was largely ineffective against Zimbabwe’s defense. 5.5/10

Ademola Lookman – Worked hard and linked well with Osimhen but did not have many opportunities to test the goalkeeper. 6/10

Victor Osimhen – Scored Nigeria’s only goal with a well-timed header. His movement was dangerous, but he lacked service for most of the game. 7.5/10

The substitutes

Tolu Arokodare  – Assisted in the build-up to Osimhen’s goal with solid hold-up play. Brought energy but didn’t get a clear chance. 6.5/10

Raphael Onyedika – Added some defensive cover in midfield but failed to make a major impact going forward. 5/10

Victor Boniface – Came on for Osimhen late but had little time to influence the game. 4/10

Wale Adejumo

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