Photo Credit – Nigeria Super Eagles.
Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers will face a stern test in Kigali when they face Rwanda at the Amahoro Stadium on March 21 for game day five.
The Super Eagles have had a poor start to their qualifiers, having raked home just three points in their opening four matches in the campaign.
They currently sit fifth in Group C on three points and they need a win against the Amavubi to increase their chance for a ticket to the World Cup in Mexico, Canada and USA next year.
Head coach of the three time African champions, Eric Chelle has been reacting to the daunting task ahead. “The camp was good, we need to focus on our game and our project. Rwanda has a great team, they have a new coach so they need to win but we need to win too.
“We need to be focused on our game and I think after the training session, we will be ready for this game. Rwanda has a great team, the coach is a new coach and I knew that my team has great forwards and we need to focus on our game and show what we did in training session and we don’t have a problem.”
The captain of the side, William Troost-Ekong was not left out of the equation, expressing extreme team confidence ahead of the clash. “We are here for one job, I think everybody knows how important this game is for us, we want to win, we need to win.
“Rwanda is a very good team, we have faced them a few times in the last two years and they have shown their level so we respect them.
“That is never going to be easy to be here but we have confidence in our team, how I have seen the boys train, the new coach, the understanding of the tactics will be the key thing for us now but we are ready and like I said before, we have one job to do and that is to win the game.”
Nigeria and Rwanda have met five times with one win apiece for each nation and three draws. Rwanda picked four points from Nigeria in the 2025 AFCON qualifiers.
Benin are top of Group C with eight points, one better than Rwanda and South Africa and three ahead of Lesotho with Nigeria in fifth on three points. Zimbabwe have collected just three points after holding Benin to a 2-2 draw in match day five on Thursday.
The Super Eagles will return to Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo to host Zimbabwe on March 25.
