- Rwanda secured a shocking 2-1 victory over Nigeria’s Super Eagles at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in their final 2025 AFCON qualifier
- Samuel Chukwueze scored a brilliant solo goal to give Nigeria the lead, but Rwanda's two quick goals sealed their first-ever win against the Super Eagles
- Despite Rwanda’s triumph, they failed to qualify for AFCON, as Benin Republic joined Nigeria at the tournament
In an evening of unexpected twists at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, Rwanda's Wasps delivered a historic comeback, defeating Nigeria's Super Eagles 2-1 in their final 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match, although the game had no bearing on the Super Eagles qualification.
Nigeria went into the match having already secured their AFCON ticket. With that in mind, head coach Augustine Eguavoen made seven changes to the squad that drew 1-1 with Benin Republic days earlier. Key names like Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, and Wilfred Ndidi were rested, giving opportunities to Victor Boniface, Moses Simon, and Raphael Onyedikachi. However, the revamped lineup struggled to display dominance over the determined Rwandan side.
The first half saw Nigeria struggling to impose their usual direct passes and fluidity, despite moments of brilliance from Alhassan Yusuf. Kelechi Iheanacho had the best chance of the opening period, but Rwanda’s goalkeeper was able to deny him, keeping the Super Eagles frustrated and goalless by halftime.
Eguavoen, visibly unimpressed with his team’s lacklustre display, brought on Samuel Chukwueze after the break. The AC Milan winger made an immediate impact, slicing through Rwanda’s defence with a dazzling solo effort to put Nigeria ahead in the 60th minute.
His fine dribble past three defenders and finish marked his first goal for the national team since 2023. But the joy was soon short-lived, twelve minutes later, Rwanda levelled through Thierry Mutsinzi, whose header capitalised on a defensive lapse by the Super Eagles.
Before Nigeria could regroup, the visitors struck again in the 75th minute. A pacy counter-attack saw Nshuti accurately finish off a cross to secure Rwanda’s first-ever win over the three-time AFCON champions.
The late introduction of star striker Osimhen and Umar Sadiq failed to help Nigeria, as the Wasps held firm to complete their stunning victory. Despite their triumph, Rwanda narrowly missed out on AFCON qualification, with the Benin Republic joining Nigeria in the tournament after a goalless draw in Libya.
Super Eagles withdraw from AFCON qualifier after 12-hour airport ordeal in Libya
Previously, TheRadar reported that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) had made the difficult decision to withdraw the Super Eagles from their crucial 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Libya.
This decision followed a distressing 12-hour ordeal at Al Abraq International Airport, where the Nigerian team were stranded with no assistance from local authorities. The situation quickly escalated into a diplomatic nightmare, leaving players and officials frustrated as they were abandoned in a strange Libya environment.
