Victor Osimhen shone as the hero since he led the Super Eagles of Nigeria to a 2-0 victory over the Amavubi of Rwanda, keeping their hopes of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup alive.
The Super Eagles entered the game under immense pressure, having failed to secure a win in their first four qualifiers.
Positioned fifth in Group C and five points adrift of the automatic qualification spot, the team needed a strong response in Kigali on Friday afternoon.
Adding to the challenge, Nigeria had not scored an away goal against Rwanda in nearly two decades.
This match marked the debut of new head coach Eric Chelle, who took charge earlier this year, succeeding Augustine Eguavoen. Chelle fielded a formidable starting XI, featuring several Premier League-experienced players.
Ola Aina occupied the left-back position, while Alex Iwobi and Wilfred Ndidi controlled the midfield.
Meanwhile, Calvin Bassey and captain William Troost-Ekong anchored the central defense.
Nigeria dominated proceedings and took the lead through a well-executed set piece. Ademola Lookman delivered a pinpoint free-kick, which Osimhen expertly converted at the back post, registering his first goal of the qualifying campaign.
Although Rwanda had the chunk of possession, the Super Eagles continued to be ambitious going forward, with Lookman creating further opportunities.
Troost-Ekong narrowly missed converting two corners, while Rwanda’s goalkeeper, Fiacre Ntwari, made an outstanding save to deny Moses Simon.
Just before halftime, Osimhen struck again, seizing possession ahead of his marker before racing through and delicately chipping the ball over Ntwari. His clinical finish gave Nigeria a comfortable lead and left Rwanda with a daunting task in the second half.
Despite Rwanda’s previous victory over Nigeria in November, the hosts were unable to stage a comeback this time.
The Super Eagles managed the game efficiently, securing their first win of the qualification campaign with relative ease.
This result, coupled with South Africa’s victory over Lesotho, sees Rwanda slip to third place in Group C. Meanwhile, Nigeria climbs to fourth, now just one point behind Rwanda as they prepare for a crucial encounter against Zimbabwe next week.
