Liverpool’s prolific forward Mohamed Salah continues to dominate the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, leading the scoring charts with six goals for Egypt. The 32-year-old opened his campaign in emphatic fashion, netting four times in a 6-0 demolition of Djibouti on matchday one in Cairo. He later found the net in away fixtures against Guinea-Bissau and Ethiopia, strengthening Egypt’s push for qualification.

Meanwhile, Algerian striker Mohamed Amoura made headlines with a matchday six hat-trick in a 5-1 thrashing of Mozambique in Tizi Ouzou. He now shares second place on the scoring charts with five other players, each having netted five goals.

Group C Drama and Surprise Results

Group C has been the epicenter of upsets, with lower-ranked teams delivering unexpected results. Lesotho shocked Nigeria with a hard-fought draw, while Rwanda capitalized on a rain-soaked pitch to edge past South Africa. Benin added to the surprises, coming from behind to defeat Nigeria.

This week, another dramatic moment unfolded as Wolverhampton Wanderers winger Tawanda Chirewa scored a stoppage-time equalizer to secure a 1-1 draw for Zimbabwe in Nigeria.

Dominant Performances and Standings

High-scoring matches have been scarce, with only three 5-0 victories, two 6-0 wins, and a 5-1 scoreline recorded. However, the biggest rout so far came from African champions Ivory Coast, who dismantled Seychelles 9-0.

Top-seeded teams have largely lived up to expectations, with Egypt, Morocco, Ivory Coast, Algeria, and Tunisia leading their respective groups. Cameroon and Senegal, both boasting strong World Cup pedigrees, sit second in their groups, trailing Cape Verde and the Democratic Republic of Congo by just one point.

However, not all top-seeded teams have excelled. Nigeria and Mali find themselves struggling in fourth place, each trailing group leaders South Africa and Ghana by six points.

Morocco’s Flawless Run

Morocco remains the only team among the 52 in contention to have won all five of their matches. The 2022 World Cup semi-finalists have recorded key victories, including two 2-0 wins over Tanzania, a 2-1 triumph over Zambia, a commanding 6-0 win against Congo Brazzaville, and a 2-1 success against Niger.

The Atlas Lions also benefited from hosting their away fixtures against Congo and Niger. While Congo has not disclosed the reason for surrendering home advantage, Niger was forced to do so due to a lack of a FIFA-approved stadium.

Common Scorelines

Across the 151 matches played so far, 1-0 has been the most frequent result, occurring 33 times. Closely following are 2-1 and 2-0 scorelines, each appearing 21 times. Meanwhile, 1-1 draws (19) and goalless stalemates (15) complete the list of the most common outcomes.

With four matchdays remaining in September and October, the race for World Cup qualification is heating up, promising more drama, surprises, and standout performances.

A last-minute goal from Tawanda Chirewa denied Nigeria victory as Zimbabwe secured a 1-1 draw in their Group C World Cup qualifier on Tuesday.

Victor Osimhen had put Nigeria ahead in the 73rd minute with a well-placed header from Ola Aina’s cross. The Super Eagles appeared to be heading for three points until Chirewa struck in the 90th minute, slipping past defenders and toe-poking the ball under goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali.

The match, played at the The Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom capittal, saw Nigeria dominate possession and create several chances. Tolu Arokodare, who replaced Samuel Chukwueze in the 59th minute, was involved in the opener. He held up play before passing to Aina, whose precise delivery found Osimhen at the far post.

Nigeria had multiple opportunities to extend their lead. In the 83rd minute, Wilfred Ndidi missed a clear chance after being played in by Moses Simon, skewing his shot wide. Moments later, Osimhen was substituted due to cramp, with Victor Boniface coming on.

Zimbabwe nearly equalized in the 76th minute when Walter Musona’s effort struck the underside of the crossbar after a mix-up between Nwabali and his defenders.

The visitors eventually found their goal in stoppage time through Chirewa, who capitalized on a defensive lapse to earn Zimbabwe a crucial point.

Nigeria’s next fixture will be a crucial opportunity to regain momentum as they continue their World Cup qualifying campaign.

The Super Eagles of Nigeria are set for a must-win clash against the Warriors of Zimbabwe in a crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium.

Both teams are desperate for victory as they seek to improve their standing in Group C. Nigeria currently sits behind Rwanda, Benin Republic, and South Africa with six points from five matches, while Zimbabwe remains at the bottom with just three points.

Nigeria Aiming to Build on Recent Victory
The Super Eagles come into the fixture with momentum following a 2-0 away victory against Rwanda, where star striker Victor Osimhen scored both goals. The win provided a much-needed boost for Nigeria, which has struggled for consistency in the qualifiers.

Under the leadership of new head coach Eric Chelle, the team will be hoping for a stronger performance compared to their first-leg encounter against Zimbabwe, which ended in a 1-1 draw last November.

Zimbabwe’s Qualification Struggles
The Warriors of Zimbabwe, still searching for their first win in the campaign, recently played out a 2-2 draw against Benin Republic. Despite their struggles, Zimbabwe will be looking to cause an upset against Nigeria and revive their slim qualification hopes.

In the previous meeting between the two sides, Zimbabwe took an early lead through a Walter Musona free-kick, before Nigeria salvaged a point with Kelechi Iheanacho’s penalty. The Super Eagles will be keen to secure all three points this time around.

Match Details
The match is scheduled to kick off at 5 PM Nigerian time on Tuesday, March 25, 2025. Fans can watch the game live on DSTV and StarTimes.

With a World Cup ticket at stake, the Super Eagles will need a convincing display to keep their qualification hopes alive.