Morocco 2025: Super Eagles fire blank in Kigali

Posted : 11 September 2024

Nigeria and Rwanda played to a scoreless draw at the refurbished Amahoro Stadium in Kigali on Tuesday, but the Super Eagles retained leadership of their qualifying group, courtesy of the 3-0 win over Benin Republic in Uyo on Saturday.

Libya’s Mediterranean Knights, playing the Cheetahs in Abidjan a few hours later, would only be able to dislodge the Eagles if they won by three goals.

The draw mirrored two earlier encounters between both teams in Kigali, as Nigeria forced a 1-1 draw in a 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifying match, also at the Amahoro, and both teams played to a 0-0 draw in a 2013 AFCON qualifier at the Stade Régional de Nyamirambo.

Coach Augustine Eguavoen made only one change from the squad that started against the Cheetahs, with Fisayo Dele-Bashiru replacing Alex Iwobi.

Defender Bruno Onyemaechi should have put Nigeria ahead after only three minutes, but he miscued his shot after a great pass from Ademola Lookman. Two minutes later, midfielder Wilfred Ndidi’s shot went straight to goalkeeper Fiacre Ntwari.

Bonheur Mugisha and Kevin Muhire took turns harassing the Super Eagles’ defense as the game wore on, but Nigeria could have gone ahead after 22 minutes when Lookman headed into the net. However, Moroccan referee Karim Sabry ruled that a Nigerian player had pushed a defender in the build-up.

Victor Boniface wasted a glorious opportunity in the 25th minute, and in the 37th minute, Onyemaechi failed to capitalize as Boniface’s shot hit the upright and bounced back into play.

Four minutes before halftime, Onyemaechi, who found himself in scoring positions easily, headed wide when he received a cross from the right by Olaoluwa Aina.

Eight minutes into the second half, substitute Moses Simon’s shot from William Ekong’s floater was blocked by the imperious Ntwari. Jojea Kwizera could have put the Wasps in front in the 68th minute as the home team broke forward, but his shot flew wide of the goal.

With 19 minutes left, Lookman was almost celebrating a goal, only to see his volley from Aina’s cross punched out by Ntwari.

Mugisha, undaunted, unleashed a rocket from 22 yards with two minutes remaining, but goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali punched it to safety.

Substitute Raphael Onyedika could have scored in the 89th minute, but again, Ntwari was on hand to block his shot, just as he held firmly onto the ball from substitute Victor Osimhen’s header in added time.

The Eagles will next confront the Mediterranean Knights of Libya at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, mid-October.

Morocco 2025: Super Eagles fire blank in Kigali

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