The Super Eagles of Nigeria edged Rwanda 1-0 on Saturday in Uyo to reignite their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification hopes.
A lone strike from striker Tolu Arokodare proved decisive in a tightly contested Group C encounter at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium.
Head coach Eric Chelle expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance, especially their dominant first-half display.
“I’m happy about the three points. We had 70% possession in the first half, and that made Rwanda tired. This is why in the second half, they didn’t press us when we scored,” Chelle said.
The Malian tactician believes the victory puts Nigeria in a stronger position heading into their crucial clash against South Africa on Tuesday.
“Now we are happy because we won 1-0. We can go to South Africa with a lot of ambitions,” he added.
However, celebrations were dampened as star striker Victor Osimhen limped off injured. Chelle confirmed that the Napoli forward will undergo scans to determine the extent of the damage.
On the opposing side, Rwanda’s coach Adel Amrouche questioned the standard of officiating despite congratulating Nigeria on the win.
“Both teams gave a good fight, but the officiating was not the best. I don’t want to say much because of what happened in the past,” Amrouche told reporters.
The result moves Nigeria to third place in Group C with three matches remaining. The Super Eagles must now beat South Africa’s Bafana Bafana and secure maximum points in their remaining fixtures to keep their World Cup dream alive.
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