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With just a day remaining before the pivotal 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, the Super Eagles are focused on achieving their primary goal.
Having previously failed to secure a win against their hosts, Rwanda, on their own turf, the determined team believes the moment to change that narrative is now.
Team captain William Troost-Ekong stated: “We have heard about that from various sources, but it doesn’t concern us. I was part of the last encounter in Kigali, which ended in a draw. However, we understand that a draw is not an option this time; our aim is to secure all three points and rejuvenate our campaign. We are not worried about past events or what history tells us; our priority is qualification for the FIFA World Cup."
The three-time African champions have yet to celebrate a victory against Rwanda in their territory, with the last such instance dating back 20 years to a qualifying match for the 2006 FIFA World Cup that finished in a stalemate. In 2011, a qualifying game for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations concluded without any goals at the Stade Regional de Nyamirambo on the outskirts of Kigali. Last September, another encounter ended without goals in a 2025 AFCON qualifying match at the Amahoro.
All 23 selected players were present at the Eagles' Radisson Blu quarters on Tuesday night, enabling everyone to take part in the training session before heading to the official training at the Amahoro Stadium yesterday evening.
Nigeria's star striker, Victor Osimhen, was among the early arrivals, recently celebrating his position as the leading scorer in the Turkish Superlig with 20 goals following a hat-trick performance on Saturday.
The 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup's top scorer has now netted 23 goals for Nigeria in 47 appearances.
Prominent players such as reigning Africa Player of the Year Ademola Lookman, Simon Moses, Samuel Chukwueze, Sadiq Umar, and new addition Tolu Arokodare are expected to challenge the Amavubi defense effectively.
FIFA, the global governing body for football, has designated Moroccan referee Jalal Jayed, who turns 38 two days after the match, to officiate. The game is scheduled to kick off at 6:00 p.m. local Rwandan time (5:00 p.m. Nigerian time). Jayed previously oversaw a friendly encounter between the Super Eagles and Ghana's Black Stars in Marrakech on March 22, 2024, which Nigeria won 2-1, marking Nigeria's first victory over Ghana at the senior level in 18 years.
As the Franco-Malian coach Éric Sékou Chelle takes the helm of the Super Eagles for the first time, Nigeria, still in search of their first win, must begin to secure victories to enhance their prospects of claiming the sole automatic qualification spot from Group C to the finals in the USA, Canada, and Mexico next summer.
