W/ Cup qualifier: Super Eagles walk tightrope in Kigali

Super Eagles of Nigeria are aiming to reignite their faltering 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign as they square up with the Wasps of Rwanda in a make-or-mar contest today at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali. Sitting second-bottom in Group C after four games, Nigeria trails the joint leaders by four points and cannot afford further […]

Super Eagles of Nigeria are aiming to reignite their faltering 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign as they square up with the Wasps of Rwanda in a make-or-mar contest today at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali.

Sitting second-bottom in Group C after four games, Nigeria trails the joint leaders by four points and cannot afford further slip-ups if they hope to secure a spot in the global finals. 

Captain William Ekong insists the team is unfazed by their past record in Rwanda, focusing solely on securing all three points.

“Actually, we read about that in some places but we are not bothered. I was part of the last game in Kigali which ended scoreless, but we know that we cannot afford a draw this time.

“Our objective is to pick the three points and bring some life back into our campaign.

“We are certainly not concerned about history books and what has happened before now. Qualification for the FIFA World Cup is our priority.”

Osimhen who echoed the assertion of his captain, seems to be eager to get started under the guidance of Coach Eric Sekou Chelle.

“It takes more than a coach to win football matches. Players must also be at their best, show commitment, and bear in mind that we can all fly together to reach our goal.

“There’s a new manager now, and we are desperately looking forward to the game against Rwanda to try to correct all the previous mistakes we’ve made and put ourselves in a better position to qualify,” he said.

Newcomer Kayode Bankole acknowledged the challenge ahead but expressed confidence in the team’s ability to deliver strong performances.

“It is a huge task for me as everyone expects Nigeria to qualify for the World Cup which I know it’s possible with God on our side,” he said.

Rwanda, on the other hand, are daring to dream. The Amavubi are joint top of Group C with South Africa and Benin, having collected seven points from their first four matches. Despite a 1-0 loss to Benin in June, Rwanda bounced back with a narrow victory over Lesotho, putting them in a promising position ahead of their double-header in Kigali. 

Under new head coach Adel Amrouche, Rwanda is determined to make history. Having never qualified for a World Cup, the East African nation sees this as a golden opportunity to edge closer to their dream.

A win against Nigeria would be a massive step forward, especially with a second home game against South Africa looming. 

For Nigeria, the pressure is mounting. The three-time African champions have underperformed in the qualifiers so far, remaining winless after four matches (three draws and a 2-1 defeat to Benin).

Chelle, appointed in January, faces a tough task in his debut as Super Eagles manager. With only three points on the board, Nigeria must secure a positive result in Kigali to keep their World Cup hopes alive. 

The stakes are high for both teams. Nigeria, boasting African Player of the Year winners, Victor Osimhen (2023) and Ademola Lookman (2024), cannot afford to miss consecutive World Cups for the first time since their 1994 debut.

However, history is not on their side as Nigeria is winless in their last three meetings with Rwanda, including a 2-1 home defeat in AFCON qualifying last November. A first-ever win in Rwanda is now a necessity to keep their World Cup dream alive. 

Meanwhile, Rwanda is determined to prove they belong among Africa’s elite and take a giant leap toward their first-ever World Cup appearance.