Nigeria secured a 1-0 victory over Rwanda to keep their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification hopes alive.
It was a quiet first half for the Super Eagles, with the game goalless.
Victor Osimhen was forced off in the 36th minute due to injury and was replaced by Cyriel Dessers.
The second half saw an improved performance from Nigeria. Head coach Eric Chelle introduced Tolu Arokodare at the break, opting for a two-striker system that proved effective.
Dessers pressed off the ball while Arokodare led the attack. The breakthrough came in the 52nd minute, when Arokodare found the net to give Nigeria the lead.
The goal boosted Nigeria’s confidence and dominance, forcing Rwanda goalkeeper Fiacre Ntwari into two further saves.
Arokodare’s impactful performance earned him the Man of the Match award.
Meanwhile, the extent of Osimhen’s injury remains unclear. Chelle confirmed that the striker felt pain in his ankle and will undergo assessment tomorrow (Sunday).
Next up, Nigeria will travel to face South Africa in a must-win encounter against Bafana Bafana.
The Super Eagles currently trail Hugo Broos’ side by six points, with South Africa on 16 points.
A victory will cut the gap to three points and with FIFA set to deduct points from South Africa for fielding an ineligible player, it will leave the qualification in group C open.
When asked about the potential three-point deduction, South Africa coach Hugo Broos played down its importance, stating:
“If God is with us we can maybe qualify already next Tuesday for the World Cup.
“We are in a good situation and we have everything in our own hands, so it’s up to us now to finish it.”
The last meeting between both sides came in June, last year, during matchday three of the qualifiers, which ended in a draw.
Much has changed since then, with Finidi George no longer in charge and Eric Chelle now leading the Super Eagles.
Chelle fully understands the weight of the upcoming fixture and what it means to millions of Nigerians.
