The Super Eagles hopes of playing at next year’s World Cup tonight suffered a major blow after they were forced to a 1-1 draw in Uyo by Zimbabwe.
They are now fourth on the table with seven points from six matches, six points behind leaders South Africa, who won 2-0 in Benin today.
Rwanda and Lesotho played out a 1-1 draw in Kigali in the third game in Group C.
Rwanda are second on eight points, while Benin also with eight points but inferior goals difference are third.
Lesotho fifth on six points, while Zimbabwe remain bottom having recorded four points.
Osimhen opened scoring for Nigeria with a diving header in the 74th minute off a superb cross by Ola Aina after the Warriors of Zimbabwe had battled their hosts to a standstill for most of this encounter.
It was his 26th international goal for Nigeria.
In stoppage time, Tawanda Chirewa handed Nigeria the hammer blow when he squezzed through the ball beyond goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali from an acute angle.
In the first half, resolute defending and the heroics of goalkeeper Washington Arubi denied Nigeria a goal.
The home team created the better chances but the final ball always seemed to fail them before Osimhen finally broke the deadlock late in the second half.
But just when they thought they had crossed the line with all three points, Zimbabwe struck for a share of the points.
Super Eagles Starting XI vs Zimbabwe:
Nwabali – Ola Aina, Osayi-Samuel, Ekong (Captain), Bassey – Ndidi, Iwobi (Onyedika 77) , Chukwueze (Arokodare 59), Moses Simon – Ademola Lookman, Osimhen (Victor Boniface 86)
