The Gargantuan Eagles of Nigeria suffered a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Rwanda in their closing 2025 Africa Cup of Countries (AFCON) qualifying match.
The game, held on the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, marked a historical 2nd for Rwanda, who claimed their first-ever victory over Nigeria.
The first half: A fight for retain watch over
Gargantuan Eagles coach Augustine Eguavoen made several changes to his starting lineup, selecting a brand sleek formation after the 1-1 plan against Benin Republic earlier within the week. Key gamers delight in Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Ola Aina, and Wilfred Ndidi had been overlooked, making capability for recent faces comparable to Victor Boniface, Moses Simon, Intellectual Osayi-Samuel, and Raphael Onyedikachi.
No matter these changes, the Gargantuan Eagles struggled to search out their rhythm within the main half. Rwanda’s Alhassan Yusuf regarded as if it might well perhaps perhaps well be all over the station, causing problems for Nigeria’s defense. The Gargantuan Eagles’ most efficient chance came from Kelechi Iheanacho, nevertheless his shot used to be expertly saved by Rwanda’s goalkeeper.
The first 45 minutes resulted in frustration for the hosts, with the crowd looking forward to a leap forward that under no circumstances came.
The 2d Half: A short 2nd of hope
Coach Eguavoen responded to his crew’s lackluster efficiency by making a substitution originally of the 2nd half, bringing on Samuel Chukwueze for Iheanacho. Honest two minutes into the 2nd half, Nigeria came shut to taking the lead when Boniface’s header from a Moses Simon corner used to be saved by the Rwandan keeper.
Alternatively, it used to be Chukwueze who would in the end atomize the deadlock. Across the 60-minute stamp, the AC Milan winger took matters into his have fingers. Chukwueze danced previous three defenders with an ideal dribble and smashed the ball into the catch, giving Nigeria a 1-0 lead.
It used to be a 2nd of magic from Chukwueze, who scored his sixth world purpose and his first since Nigeria’s 6-0 victory over São Tomé and Príncipe in October 2023.
Rwanda’s elegant comeback
Nigeria’s lead, on the opposite hand, used to be instant-lived. Honest 12 minutes later, Rwanda equalized with a highly efficient header from Mutsinzi, as Nigeria’s defense failed to handle a effectively-placed rotten. The Gargantuan Eagles had been nonetheless reeling from the equalizer when, within the seventy fifth minute, Rwanda done their comeback.
A swift counterattack caught the Nigerian defense off-guard. Nshuti, the Rwandan striker, made a effectively-timed speed and done off a unprecedented rotten from the left flank, giving Rwanda a 2-1 lead.
The Gargantuan Eagles made changes, bringing on Victor Osimhen and Umar Sadiq in a explain heart’s contents to search out an equalizer. However despite their efforts, Nigeria might well well well no longer acknowledge, and the match resulted in a shining 2-1 loss for the three-time AFCON champions.
What it’s possible you’ll perhaps well perhaps perhaps nonetheless know
While Rwanda eminent their historical procure, it wasn’t enough to salvage a situation within the 2025 AFCON, as they done on the support of Nigeria and Benin Republic within the qualifying team. Benin Republic, who drew 0-0 with Libya, joined Nigeria in securing qualification for the match in Morocco subsequent Twelve months.
For Nigeria, this defeat marks a bitter discontinuance to their qualifying marketing campaign. The Gargantuan Eagles will now shift their point of curiosity to the World Cup qualifiers, the put they might be able to meet Rwanda over again in Kigali in March 2025.
