The Well-organized Eagles of Nigeria suffered a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Rwanda in their closing 2025 Africa Cup of International locations (AFCON) qualifying match.
The game, held on the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, marked a historic moment for Rwanda, who claimed their first-ever victory over Nigeria.
The principle half of: A battle for maintain watch over
Well-organized Eagles coach Augustine Eguavoen made numerous modifications to his starting up lineup, selecting a unusual formation after the 1-1 design in opposition to Benin Republic earlier in the week. Key gamers love Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Ola Aina, and Wilfred Ndidi beget been overlooked, making formulation for fresh faces equivalent to Victor Boniface, Moses Simon, Sparkling Osayi-Samuel, and Raphael Onyedikachi.
Regardless of these modifications, the Well-organized Eagles struggled to salvage their rhythm in the predominant half of. Rwanda’s Alhassan Yusuf perceived to be all over the place of residing, causing complications for Nigeria’s defense. The Well-organized Eagles’ most interesting likelihood came from Kelechi Iheanacho, but his shot was expertly saved by Rwanda’s goalkeeper.
The principle 45 minutes ended in frustration for the hosts, with the crowd wanting forward to a step forward that by no formulation came.
The 2nd Half: A transient moment of hope
Coach Eguavoen responded to his group’s lackluster efficiency by making a substitution at the delivery of the 2d half of, bringing on Samuel Chukwueze for Iheanacho. Appropriate two minutes into the 2d half of, Nigeria came terminate to taking the lead when Boniface’s header from a Moses Simon corner was saved by the Rwandan keeper.
On the quite a bit of hand, it was Chukwueze who would eventually spoil the deadlock. Round the 60-minute sign, the AC Milan winger took issues into his beget hands. Chukwueze danced previous three defenders with a most interesting dribble and smashed the ball into the online, giving Nigeria a 1-0 lead.
It was a moment of magic from Chukwueze, who scored his sixth global aim and his first since Nigeria’s 6-0 victory over São Tomé and Príncipe in October 2023.
Rwanda’s shapely comeback
Nigeria’s lead, on the quite a bit of hand, was short-lived. Appropriate 12 minutes later, Rwanda equalized with a formidable header from Mutsinzi, as Nigeria’s defense didn’t handle a successfully-placed rotten. The Well-organized Eagles beget been unruffled reeling from the equalizer when, in the seventy fifth minute, Rwanda executed their comeback.
A swift counterattack caught the Nigerian defense off-guard. Nshuti, the Rwandan striker, made a successfully-timed flee and executed off a amazing rotten from the left flank, giving Rwanda a 2-1 lead.
The Well-organized Eagles made modifications, bringing on Victor Osimhen and Umar Sadiq in a expose heart’s contents to salvage an equalizer. But despite their efforts, Nigeria might maybe well now not answer, and the match ended in a sexy 2-1 loss for the three-time AFCON champions.
What it is top to unruffled know
Whereas Rwanda infamous their historic accumulate, it wasn’t satisfactory to gain a spot in the 2025 AFCON, as they executed slack Nigeria and Benin Republic in the qualifying team. Benin Republic, who drew 0-0 with Libya, joined Nigeria in securing qualification for the tournament in Morocco subsequent 365 days.
For Nigeria, this defeat marks a bitter with regards to their qualifying marketing campaign. The Well-organized Eagles will now shift their heart of attention to the World Cup qualifiers, where they’re going to meet Rwanda as soon as more in Kigali in March 2025.
