Zimbabwean defender Jordan Zemura has expressed confidence in his team’s ability to contain Nigeria’s attacking duo, Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman, ahead of their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier on Tuesday.
Osimhen and Lookman played pivotal roles in Nigeria’s 2-0 victory over Rwanda last Friday, with the Napoli striker netting both goals and the Atalanta forward providing an assist.
Their performances reaffirmed their status as key figures in the Super Eagles’ frontline, posing a formidable challenge for Zimbabwe’s defensive unit.
Zemura, however, remains unfazed by the prospect of facing two of Africa’s top attacking talents.
Speaking ahead of the crucial encounter, the 24-year-old acknowledged the quality of his opponents while reaffirming his team’s commitment to standing firm against them.
“They are incredible players,” Zemura said. “Lookman plays for Atalanta and is very talented. As for Osimhen, he is recognized as one of the best strikers in the world.”
The left-back, who plies his trade in Serie A with Udinese, understands the difficulty of the task at hand but insists Zimbabwe will be prepared.
He highlighted the challenge of keeping such prolific players quiet, acknowledging their ability to change the course of a match in an instant.
“It’s a challenge to keep them calm, but we are ready to accept it and do everything we can to achieve it,” he added.
Zimbabwe, commonly known as the Warriors, will be looking to improve their standing in the qualifiers, with every point proving crucial in their pursuit of a historic World Cup berth.
Their defensive resilience will be tested against a Nigerian side that boasts an abundance of attacking firepower.
Osimhen, who won the African Footballer of the Year award in 2023, has been in exceptional form for both club and country.
His clinical finishing and physical presence make him one of the most feared strikers in world football.
Lookman, meanwhile, continues to shine for Atalanta, where his creativity and technical ability have made him a key player in Serie A.
With both teams eager to secure a vital victory, all eyes will be on Zimbabwe’s backline to see if they can withstand the threat posed by Nigeria’s dynamic forwards.
Zemura’s leadership and defensive acumen will be instrumental as the Warriors aim to defy the odds and secure a positive result.
