By Harriet Tornguvan -Abuja
Nigeria’s Super Eagles revived their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification hopes with a commanding 2-0 victory over Rwanda, thanks to a stellar performance from Victor Osimhen. The win marks a significant turnaround for Nigeria, who had struggled in their opening four matches, drawing three and losing one.
Under the guidance of head coach Eric Chelle, Nigeria wasted no time asserting their dominance. Just 11 minutes into the match, Osimhen capitalized on a precise free-kick from Ademola Lookman, positioning himself at the back post to head home the opener.
The Super Eagles continued to press forward, with Moses Simon coming close to doubling the lead, only to be denied by an impressive save from Rwanda's goalkeeper, Fiacre Ntwari. Captain William Troost-Ekong also threatened to set pieces but was unable to find the net.
On the stroke of halftime, Osimhen struck again, breaking through Rwanda’s defense to secure his second goal of the match.
Additionally, with a comfortable lead heading into the second half, Nigeria maintained control, ensuring there was no repeat of their previous encounter in November, where Rwanda staged a comeback to claim victory.
Despite Rwanda’s efforts to mount a response, Nigeria held firm to claim a much-needed win, strengthening their position in Group C.
The result provides a crucial boost to their World Cup qualification campaign as they look ahead to their remaining fixtures.
