Morocco 2025: Wingless Eagles lose to Amavubi in Uyo

Posted : 18 November 2024

The Super Eagles of Nigeria once again exhibited a disjointed performance as they allowed the Amavubi of Rwanda to beat them 2-1 in front of their home fans at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, marking the first time they lost to Rwanda on home soil in African football.

Nigerian coach Augustine Eguavoen made eight changes to his usual lineup, resting key players or placing them on the bench, while Rwanda made two changes. The painful reality is that this historic Rwandan victory did not qualify them for the AFCON finals.

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Nigeria faced a Rwandan team that played with determination, with Kelechi Iheanacho getting the only shot on target in the last minute of the first half.

At the start of the second half, Nigeria made two simultaneous substitutions in the 46th minute, bringing on Samuel Chukwueze for Iheanacho and Frank Onyeka for Yusuf. Immediately, Onyeka connected with Chukwueze, who scored the opening goal in the 59th minute.

However, Rwanda responded with two quick goals within three minutes. The first came when overlapping defender Ange Mutsinzi received a pass from Kwizera and beat a careless Nigerian defense in the 72nd minute. In the 75th minute, Innocent Nshuti scored the winning goal with a solo effort.

The loss is concerning for the Nigerian football community as there are growing questions about whether Augustine Eguavoen can qualify Nigeria for the World Cup. Nigeria still has crucial World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda on September 1, 2025, in Uyo, and on March 17, 2025, in Kigali. Nigeria is desperate for World Cup qualification.

In other Group D news, the Cheetahs of Benin held the Mediterranean Knights of Libya to a goalless draw at the 11th June Stadium in Tripoli, Libya, securing qualification on goal superiority over Rwanda. Benin and Nigeria both advance from Group D.

Here is the final table standing of Group D:

| Nation | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pt |
|--------|---|---|---|----|----|-----|----|
| Ngr | 3 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 3 | +6 | 11 |
| Ben | 2 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 8 |
| Rwa | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 7 | -2 | 8 |
| Lib | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 7 | -4 | 5 |

Rwanda has yet to defeat the Super Eagles in football. The two teams have met five times, with Nigeria winning once and the other four matches ending in draws. Three of the four goals scored in these encounters have come from Nigeria. The teams have met three times in AFCON games, with Nigeria winning once and the other two encounters ending in draws.

Morocco 2025: Wingless Eagles lose to Amavubi in Uyo

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