The Clear Eagles of Nigeria suffered a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Rwanda of their closing 2025 Africa Cup of Countries (AFCON) qualifying match.
The sport, held on the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, marked a historic 2d for Rwanda, who claimed their first-ever victory over Nigeria.
The first half of: A fight for withhold an eye on
Clear Eagles coach Augustine Eguavoen made plenty of changes to his starting lineup, opting for a brand new formation after the 1-1 design in opposition to Benin Republic earlier in the week. Key avid gamers appreciate Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Ola Aina, and Wilfred Ndidi were overlooked, making methodology for fresh faces corresponding to Victor Boniface, Moses Simon, Brilliant Osayi-Samuel, and Raphael Onyedikachi.
No topic those changes, the Clear Eagles struggled to procure their rhythm in the first half of. Rwanda’s Alhassan Yusuf regarded to be in each single discipline, causing complications for Nigeria’s protection. The Clear Eagles’ easiest chance came from Kelechi Iheanacho, but his shot became once expertly saved by Rwanda’s goalkeeper.
The first forty five minutes resulted in frustration for the hosts, with the gang looking forward to a leap forward that never came.
The Second Half of: A rapid 2d of hope
Coach Eguavoen responded to his crew’s lackluster efficiency by making a substitution before the complete lot of the 2d half of, bringing on Samuel Chukwueze for Iheanacho. Apt two minutes into the 2d half of, Nigeria came discontinuance to taking the lead when Boniface’s header from a Moses Simon corner became once saved by the Rwandan keeper.
Alternatively, it became once Chukwueze who would at closing damage the deadlock. Spherical the 60-minute impress, the AC Milan winger took issues into his score fingers. Chukwueze danced previous three defenders with a splendid dribble and smashed the ball into the receive, giving Nigeria a 1-0 lead.
It became once a 2d of magic from Chukwueze, who scored his sixth global purpose and his first since Nigeria’s 6-0 victory over São Tomé and Príncipe in October 2023.
Rwanda’s aesthetic comeback
Nigeria’s lead, on the different hand, became once rapid-lived. Apt 12 minutes later, Rwanda equalized with a fanciful header from Mutsinzi, as Nigeria’s protection failed to address a successfully-placed sinister. The Clear Eagles were light reeling from the equalizer when, in the 75th minute, Rwanda performed their comeback.
A swift counterattack caught the Nigerian protection off-guard. Nshuti, the Rwandan striker, made a successfully-timed flee and completed off a amazing sinister from the left flank, giving Rwanda a 2-1 lead.
The Clear Eagles made changes, bringing on Victor Osimhen and Umar Sadiq in a account for to procure an equalizer. But no topic their efforts, Nigeria can also no longer answer, and the match resulted in a fine 2-1 loss for the three-time AFCON champions.
What you ought to light know
Whereas Rwanda successfully-known their historic accumulate, it wasn’t satisfactory to right a discipline in the 2025 AFCON, as they completed in the succor of Nigeria and Benin Republic in the qualifying neighborhood. 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 sour end to their qualifying advertising and marketing campaign. The Clear Eagles will now shift their focal point to the World Cup qualifiers, the set apart apart they’ll meet Rwanda again in Kigali in March 2025.
