Nigeria’s Super Eagles on Saturday reignited their hopes of reaching the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Rwanda at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo.
The decisive moment came in the 51st minute when forward Tolu Arokodare pounced on a loose ball inside the box and calmly slotted past Rwanda’s goalkeeper to hand Nigeria all three points.
Both sides had approached the first half with caution, resulting in few clear-cut chances. Nigeria’s backline, well-organised under the leadership of Calvin Bassey, resisted Rwanda’s attempts to break through, particularly after the visitors tweaked their approach following the interval.
The win, however, did not come without concern for the hosts. Star striker Victor Osimhen limped off before halftime, forcing coach Eric Chelle to introduce Cyril Dessers. Despite the setback, the Eagles pressed on and showed resilience to secure the narrow but crucial result.
With the victory, Nigeria boosted their position in the Group C standings and kept their qualification hopes firmly alive as the race for the 2026 World Cup intensifies.
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