By Amofokhai Williams
The Super Eagles of Nigeria clinched a hard-fought 1-0 win against Rwanda’s Amavubi in Matchday 7 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup African Qualifiers at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium on Saturday.
The lone goal, scored by substitute Tolu Arokodare in the 51st minute, kept Nigeria’s hopes alive for qualification to the finals in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The match, which kicked off at 5:00pm was a pivotal clash in Group C, with Nigeria trailing Rwanda by one point in the standings.
Nigeria, ranked 44th globally and sitting fourth with seven points before the match, needed a victory to close the gap on group leaders South Africa (16 points).
Rwanda, aiming to solidify their position and edge closer to a historic first World Cup appearance, proved to be a resilient opponent.
The first half ended goalless, with Nigeria dominating possession at 60% but struggling to create clear-cut chances.
The turning point came early in the second half when Arokodare, introduced at halftime for Frank Onyeka, broke the deadlock in the 51st minute.
The substitute forward capitalized on a well-worked move to score, igniting the home crowd and shifting momentum in Nigeria’s favour.
The goal was a lifeline for the Super Eagles, who were under pressure to keep their qualification dreams alive after missing the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Nigeria maintained their dominance, finishing the match with 11 total shots (8 on target) compared to Rwanda’s 4 (3 on target).
The Super Eagles also earned four corner kicks to Rwanda’s one and recorded 16 free kicks, matching Rwanda’s tally. Despite Rwanda’s disciplined defending, which included seven goalkeeper saves, Nigeria’s persistence paid off.
Nigeria’s head coach, Eric Chelle, employed a 4-1-3-2 formation, relying on key players like Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, and Alex Iwobi.
However, Osimhen’s early exit in the 35th minute due to injury saw Cyriel Dessers come on, with Arokodare later proving to be the game-changer.
The victory moves Nigeria to 10 points on third place, while South Africa led the group with 16 points and Benin, in second position with 11 points.
The Super Eagles now face a must win match against South Africa in Johannesburg on Tuesday. A win for South Africa will see them qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
