Matilda Omonaiye/
Nigeria’s Super Eagles breathed life back into their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign with a hard-fought 1–0 win over Rwanda in Uyo this evening.
The match began with drama as coach Eric Chelle left out regular captain, William Troost-Ekong, from the starting lineup, handing the armband to Wilfred Ndidi while pairing youngster Benjamin Fredrick with Calvin Bassey in central defence.
Nigeria pressed early but were dealt a major setback when talisman, Victor Osimhen, had a goal disallowed before limping off injured in the first half.
His exit left fans anxious about his fitness ahead of crucial upcoming games.
The breakthrough finally came in the 51st minute when substitute, Tolu Arokodare, produced a stunning acrobatic finish to break Rwanda’s resistance and secure all three points.
His strike, full of audacity and precision, sparked wild celebrations inside the Godswill Akpabio Stadium.
The victory lifted Nigeria to third place in Group C with 10 points, trailing South Africa and Benin Republic with three matches left to play.
With South Africa comfortably beating Lesotho 3–0 in their own fixture, the race remains tight, and Nigeria must continue winning to keep their World Cup dream alive.
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