Nigeria’s Super Eagles hopes of finishing their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers unbeaten were dashed after a unexpected 2-1 loss to Rwanda in their final match on Monday.
The final group-stage (Round 6) held at Godswill Apkbabio Stadium, Uyo witness Nigeria bottle a 1-0 lead, scored by substitute Samuel Chukwueze in the 57th minute of the game’s other half.
Rwanda, equalized from a corner kick scored a free header by Mutsinzi in the 72nd minute. Three minutes later, Nshuti completed the comeback from a successful set pieces cross.
Having already secured their spot in the AFCON finals in Morocco, the Super Eagles were expected to end the year with a win, build momentum, and set the stage for next year’s crucial World Cup qualifiers.
However, following a draw with Benin and this defeat to Rwanda, Nigeria’s prospects for securing a place in the 2026 World Cup are now in serious jeopardy.
Several key players were absent for Nigeria in the match. Goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali was excused after the loss of his father, while defender Ola Aina was granted leave at the request of Nottingham Forest.
Ademola Lookman, shortlisted for African Player of the Year, was also sidelined due to injury.
Coach Austin Eguavoen opted to rest many regular starters, giving opportunities to players like Alhassan Yusuf, Bright Osayi-Samuel, and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru.
In an effort to get back on the score sheet, Victor Boniface was brought back into the starting lineup, and Kelechi Iheanacho returned after an underwhelming performance in the previous game.
Samuel Chukwueze came on in the second half and put Nigeria ahead with a brilliant solo run that saw him evade three defenders and score.
However, Rwanda equalized quickly, with defender Ange Mutsinzi heading home unchallenged from a corner. In the final moments, a swift counter-attack saw Innocent Ntshuni score, sealing a win for Rwanda.
The defeat not only ended Nigeria’s unbeaten run but also raised concerns for interim coach Eguavoen. His tenure had seen the Super Eagles go unbeaten in their AFCON qualifiers, but the loss to Rwanda now leaves doubts about his ability to lead the team into the World Cup qualifiers.
Nigeria’s defense, once solid, has now become a point of concern. Both Rwanda’s and Benin’s goals came from set pieces, exposing the persistent issues with aerial defending.
After the Benin draw, captain William Troost-Ekong explained the goal as bad luck due to the absence of key players like Victor Osimhen.
“I felt we were a little bit unlucky the moment they scored because the person we were missing at the front post, Victor Osimhen, was off the pitch,” he said.
As Nigeria looks ahead to the World Cup qualifiers next year, the question of whether Eguavoen will remain in charge remains uncertain.
Initial reports stated that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) had been hesitant to hire a permanent coach due to financial concerns and fear of backlash. However, these recent performances may have accelerated the need for a change.
The Super Eagles will need to address their defensive frailties and find consistency if they are to have any hope of making it to the 2026 World Cup. Time is running out, and the pressure is on to fix these issues ahead of the qualifiers.
