The Super Eagles kept their 2026 World Cup hopes alive on Saturday with a narrow 1–0 win over Rwanda at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.
The decisive moment came in the 51st minute when striker Tolu Arokodare pounced on a loose ball in the box and calmly slotted it past Rwanda’s goalkeeper, sending the home crowd into loud celebration.
The first half ended goalless, with both sides showing caution. Nigeria’s backline, led by Calvin Bassey, stayed solid against Rwanda’s counterattacks and tactical switches in the second half.
The Eagles suffered an early setback after star forward Victor Osimhen limped off in the first half, forcing coach Eric Chelle to bring on Cyril Dessers. Despite the loss of their top scorer, Nigeria maintained pressure and held on to secure the crucial win.
The result takes Nigeria to 10 points from 7 games in Group C, while Rwanda stay on 8 points. The group remains tight as the race for a World Cup ticket continues.
Fans flooded social media with mixed reactions. Some hailed the Eagles’ determination, while others voiced concern about Osimhen’s injury. One supporter wrote, “Arokodare has proven himself tonight. Big win for us.” Another added, “We need Osimhen fit, this race is still very tough.”
Nigeria will now look to build on the victory in their remaining fixtures as they push to secure a spot at the 2026 tournament in the US, Mexico, and Canada.
