By A Correspondent

The Super Eagles of Nigeria are gearing up to take on the Warriors of Zimbabwe in a crucial Group C clash of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers on Tuesday. As the team prepares to face their opponents, coach Eric Chelle is expected to stick with his tried-and-tested 4-4-2 diamond shape, with a few tweaks in personnel.

In goal, Stanley Nwabali is expected to retain his place, having had a comfortable outing against Rwanda in the previous match. The backline is also expected to remain largely unchanged, with William Troost-Ekong, Calvin Bassey, Ola Aina, and Bruno Onyemaechi forming the defensive quartet. However, Bright Osayi-Samuel’s fitness will be monitored, and if he fails to recover in time, Onyemaechi will slot in, with Aina shifting to his natural right-back role.

In midfield, Chelle may opt for a tactical switch, given the struggles of some players to interpret their roles against Rwanda. Alex Iwobi and Wilfred Ndidi are expected to form the central midfield pairing, with Raphael Onyedika potentially coming in for Samuel Chukwueze. Onyedika’s introduction would allow Ndidi to play in a more advanced role, while Iwobi continues to provide creativity from deep. Ademola Lookman is expected to play behind the two strikers, providing pace and width to the attack.

Up front, Moses Simon and Victor Osimhen are expected to lead the line, providing a potent attacking threat to the Zimbabwean defense. With the Super Eagles targeting maximum points against the Warriors, Chelle’s tactical decisions will be crucial in determining the outcome of the match.

As the Super Eagles take to the pitch on Tuesday, they will be looking to build on their impressive performance against Rwanda and take a significant step towards qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

With the Warriors seeking to cause an upset, the stage is set for an electrifying clash between two teams hungry for victory.