2026 World Cup Qualifier: Peseiro blames fatigue for Super Eagles Draw against Zimbabwe

Super Eagles coach, Jose Peseiro has blamed fatigue for the Super Eagles’ 1-1 draw with Zimbabwe in their second Group C game of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in Rwanda on Sunday, November 19.

Walter Musona had given the home team the lead in the first half with a superb long-range free-kick which flew past goalkeeper, Francis Uzoho.

Second-half substitute, Kelechi Iheanacho, later equalized for the Eagles following an assist from Moses Simon.

The draw means the Eagles occupy second place two points behind South Africa, who will go four points clear if they beat Rwanda on Tuesday.

Reacting to the outcome of Sunday’s match, Peseiro (who has been criticized by Nigerian football lovers as poor tactically) lamented the long trip the team had to undergo to get to the venue of the match.

“The trip from Uyo to here (Rwanda), the bus ride, flight, many hours,” he said in his post-match press conference. “So I think the players didn’t get enough rest to play the level expected.

“First half was very bad, second half was much better but we lacked energy to push for a win.”

On whether the absence of some key players contributed to the team’s failure to record a win: “We missed Osimhen, Ndidi, Taiwo, Zaidu, and Chukwueze, but I think we had enough to beat Zimbabwe.“