By Jacob Ajom
The Super Eagles revived their hopes of automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup with a nervy 1-0 win over Rwanda at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo Saturday.
New Wolves striker Tolu Arokodare proved to be the match-winner for the Super Eagles, volleying in from two yards out six minutes into the second half.
The all-important goal by falling substitute, Arokodare who was voted Man of the Match beat Bafana Bafana’s Kaizer Chiefs’ goalkeeper, Fiacre Ntwari to guaranteed the Super Eagles the three points which shot them up from fourth to third on the log with 10 points, one point behind Gernot Rohr’s Benin Republic.
Victor Osimhen had the first shot on target in the 3rd minute, but there was no power on the ball to threaten the Rwanda goalkeeper.
The Galatasaray striker netted the opening goal with a simple tap-in for Nigeria in the 8th minute, only to be flagged offside by the assistant referee.
In the 15th minute, Wilfred Ndidi’s low drive shot goes off target, a big relief for Rwanda’s defence.
The Super Eagles, after an impressive ball possession, had the chance to break the deadlock in the 30th minute, but Moses Simon’s shot was blocked by Rwanda’s defence.
It was a big blow for Nigeria after Osimhen was substituted in the 34th minute for Cyriel Dessers due to an injury he copped from a hard tackle from a Rwanda defender.
A decent long-range strike from Alex Iwobi in the 35th minute was well parried away by the Rwanda goalkeeper.
At the start of the second half, Arokodare came on to replace Frank Onyeka and wasted no time to announce himself on the pitch as he broke the deadlock in the 51st minute with a goal-line scissors kick, to the delight of the home supporters.
Simon almost doubled Nigeria’s lead in the 63rd minute, but his shot was blocked by the Rwanda goalkeeper, and the follow-up by Ademola Lookman failed to hit the target.
