As Nigeria’s Super Eagles gear up for their pivotal 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Rwanda, the team has emphasized that securing the three points is non-negotiable.
The Eagles will face Rwanda’s Amavubi at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali on Friday at 6:00 p.m. local time (5:00 p.m. Nigerian time).
Team captain William Ekong expressed confidence and determination ahead of the match, saying the players are not concerned with past results, including the fact that Nigeria has never defeated Rwanda on their home soil.
“We’re aware of the history, but we’re not focused on it,” Ekong told reporters on Wednesday. “I was part of the last match in Kigali, which ended in a goalless draw, but we know we cannot afford another draw this time. Our goal is clear: to take all three points and revive our World Cup qualification campaign. The past is irrelevant; what matters is qualifying for the World Cup.”
Nigeria has failed to secure a win in Rwanda in the past 20 years. A 2006 World Cup qualifier ended 1-1, and in 2011, a 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier finished without goals. Most recently, in September 2024, another scoreless draw occurred during a 2025 AFCON qualifier.
As of Tuesday night, all 23 players invited to the national team were in camp at the Eagles’ Radisson Blu base. The team held a training session on Wednesday and will have another official session at Amahoro Stadium on Thursday evening.
Among the players is Victor Osimhen, Nigeria’s top scorer, who arrives in high spirits after recently becoming the leading scorer in the Turkish Super Lig with 20 goals. Osimhen now boasts 23 goals in 47 appearances for the national team.
Also present are Africa’s reigning Player of the Year, Ademola Lookman, as well as Moses Simon, Samuel Chukwueze, Sadiq Umar, and new call-up Tolu Arokodare.
The match will be officiated by Moroccan referee Jalal Jayed, who turns 38 two days after the game. Jayed previously refereed a friendly between Nigeria and Ghana in March 2024, which Nigeria won 2-1.
This will be the first match under Franco-Malian coach Éric Sékou Chelle, as the Eagles aim to improve their chances of securing one of the two automatic spots from Group C for the World Cup finals in the USA, Canada, and Mexico next summer.
Nigeria has yet to win any of its first four qualifying matches, making the upcoming fixture crucial for their campaign.
