Eguavoen: No underrating Rwanda in AFCON Qualifier

Coach Augustine Eguavoen marked his return to the helm of the Super Eagles with a commanding 3-0 victory over Benin Republic’s Cheetahs in Uyo on Saturday.

Now in his fourth stint as coach, the 58-year-old is eager to extend Nigeria’s winning streak as they prepare to take on Rwanda’s Amavubi at the Amahoro National Stadium in Kigali on Tuesday afternoon.

“We always play to win because that’s what Nigerians expect. We respect every opponent, but we are never intimidated,” Eguavoen said ahead of the clash. “Our objective for Tuesday’s game is simple: to secure all three points.”

Super Eagles captain William Ekong echoed his coach’s sentiment during the pre-match press conference on Monday, stating, “We are here for a purpose. With Coach Eguavoen, who knows the team well, we feel like a family. We will play for each other and aim for the three points that will keep us top of the table.”

Nigeria, who lead their group after the decisive win against Benin, will face Rwanda in their second match of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign. The game is set to kick off at 2 p.m. Nigeria time in the recently refurbished 45,000-capacity Amahoro Stadium.

This fixture is the first of four meetings between Nigeria and Rwanda over the next year. The teams will meet again in November for the return leg of the AFCON qualifiers, followed by two encounters in the 2025 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, with Rwanda hosting the first of those in March.

Rwanda, led by German coach Torsten Spittler, is determined to break their AFCON drought, having last qualified for the tournament in 2004. Spittler has inspired confidence in his squad, boasting an impressive record of three wins, four draws, and one loss in their last eight matches. He is optimistic about their chances of overcoming Nigeria, Libya, and Benin in the qualifiers.

The Amavubi coach will look to defenders Claude Niyomugabo, Fitina Omborenga, Ange Mutsinzi, and Christian Ishimwe to keep Nigeria’s potent attack—led by Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen—at bay. In midfield, Olivier Niyonzima, Bonheur Mugisha, and Jean Bosco Rubineka are expected to play key roles, while forwards Gilbert Mugisha, Bienvenu Mugenzi, and Innocent Nshuti will spearhead Rwanda’s attack after Nshuti’s equalizer against Libya last week.

On the Nigerian side, Eguavoen confirmed that all 23 players in camp are fit and ready. Goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali is likely to start, along with captain Ekong, Semi Ajayi, and Calvin Bassey in defense. Olaoluwa Aina and Bruno Onyemaechi are expected to play as wingbacks. Wilfred Ndidi will anchor the midfield, with either Alex Iwobi or Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, while Ademola Lookman, Victor Boniface, and Samuel Chukwueze are poised to lead the attack.

Tuesday’s encounter will be crucial for both teams as they seek to strengthen their positions in the race for AFCON qualification.

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