2026 World Cup Race: Eagles snub history books, say three points on Friday is non-negotiable

Posted : 19 March 2025

As the countdown races to Friday’s crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, Nigeria’s Super Eagles remain unfazed by discussions that Nigeria has never beaten Rwanda in any part of the country called Rwanda.

Their focus, according to team captain William Ekong, is on the three points at stake.

“Actually, we read about that in some places, but we are not bothered. I was part of the last game in Kigali, which ended scoreless, but we know that we cannot afford a draw this time. Our objective is to pick up the three points and bring some life back into our campaign.

“We are certainly not concerned about history books and what has happened before now. Qualification for the FIFA World Cup is our priority.”

The three-time African champions have yet to achieve a victory over Rwanda in that country, going back 20 years ago when a 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifying match ended 1-1 at the Amahoro Stadium. In 2011, a 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match at the Stade Regional de Nyamirambo, on the outskirts of Kigali, ended scoreless. In September last year, another 0-0 result occurred in a 2025 AFCON qualifying match at the Amahoro.

All 23 invited players were at the Eagles' Radisson Blu nest on Tuesday night, meaning everyone would be involved in the second training session on Wednesday and the official training session at the Amahoro Stadium on Thursday evening.

Nigeria’s goal-scoring machine, Victor Osimhen, was among the early arrivals, celebrating becoming the new leading scorer in the Turkish Super Lig with 20 goals after a hat-trick on Saturday. The 2015 FIFA U17 World Cup top scorer now has 23 goals for Nigeria in 47 matches.

Also present are reigning African Player of the Year Ademola Lookman, Moses Simon, Samuel Chukwueze, Sadiq Umar, and new invitee Tolu Arokodare, all of whom are expected to challenge the Amavubi defense.

World football-governing body FIFA has appointed Moroccan referee Jalal Jayed, who will turn 38 two days after the match, to take charge of the game, which will kick off at 6 p.m. Rwanda time (5 p.m. Nigeria time). Jayed previously officiated a friendly game between the Super Eagles and Ghana’s Black Stars in Marrakech on 22nd March 2024, which Nigeria won 2-1.

That match marked the first time in 18 years that Nigeria overcame Ghana in a senior-level game.

On Friday, Franco-Malian tactician Éric Sékou Chelle will lead the Super Eagles for the first time as the FIFA World Cup qualifying series resumes. Nigeria, yet to win in their previous four matches, must start winning to improve their chances of claiming the only automatic ticket from Group C to the finals in the USA, Canada, and Mexico next summer.

2026 World Cup Race: Eagles snub history books, say three points on Friday is non-negotiable

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