Nigeria vs Rwanda: Nigerians expect us to win all the time, says Super Eagles Coach

Posted : 10 September 2024

The stand-in coach of the Super Eagles, Augustine Eguavoen, has expressed what Nigerians expect from the Super Eagles ahead of the second match in the qualification series against the Amavubi (Wasps) of Rwanda for the 2025 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.

Eguavoen, who began his fourth stint with the Super Eagles on a fabulous note, with the three-time African champions decimating Benin Republic’s Cheetahs 3-0 in Uyo on Saturday, said that the expectation from the team was to win all the time.

The 58-year-old, however, stated that he intends to continue along the win-and-smile path when Nigeria confronts Rwanda at the Amahoro National Stadium in Kigali on Tuesday afternoon.

“We play to win all the time because Nigerians expect their team to win all the time. And because we have a team with great personnel, we respect every opponent, but we are not intimidated by any.

“Our objective for Tuesday’s game is to secure the three points.”

Team captain William Ekong, speaking at the pre-match press conference at Amahoro Stadium, just before the Eagles’ official training, echoed the coach's sentiments: “We are here for a purpose. With Coach Eguavoen, who has coached the team before, we all feel like a family.

“We will play for each other and go for the three points that will establish us at the top of the table.”

Table-toppers Nigeria, still basking in the satisfaction of their 3-0 defeat of the Cheetahs, will take on the Amavubi (Wasps) at the refurbished 45,000-capacity facility in the heart of Kigali in a Matchday 2 encounter of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign, from 2 pm Nigeria time.

Tuesday’s encounter is the first of four matches between the Eagles and the Amavubi in the next 12 months, with the two teams set to clash in November in Nigeria in the final round of this qualifying campaign, followed by a home-and-away in the 2025 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, with the Wasps hosting Nigeria first in March next year.

Coach Torsten Spittler, a German, has inspired the country of 13 million people to believe that the Amavubi can surpass Nigeria, Libya, and Benin Republic, and earn their first ticket to the Africa Cup of Nations since 2004.

Spittler boasts an impressive record, having led the team to win three of their last eight matches, drawing four and losing one.

He plans to deploy defenders Claude Niyomugabo, Fitina Omborenga, Ange Mutsinzi, Jean Claude Niyomugabo, and Christian Ishimwe against Nigeria’s twin-terrors, Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen, who combined for the three goals that sank the Cheetahs in Uyo.

In midfield, Olivier Niyonzima, Bonheur Mugisha, and Jean Bosco Rubineka can prove formidable on their day, while in attack, Spittler has confidence in Gilbert Mugisha, Bienvenu Mugenzi, and Innocent Nshuti, who scored the team’s equalizer against Libya in Tripoli last week.

Eguavoen, on his part, confirmed that all 23 players in the Nigeria squad at the Radisson Blu are fit and ready, meaning that goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali is likely to start, along with captain Ekong, Semi Ajayi, and Calvin Bassey in central defense, while Olaoluwa Aina and Bruno Onyemaechi will play as wingbacks.

Wilfred Ndidi will likely anchor the midfield alongside Alex Iwobi or Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, with Ademola Lookman, Victor Boniface, and Samuel Chukwueze expected to start in attack.

Nigeria vs Rwanda: Nigerians expect us to win all the time, says Super Eagles Coach

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