Super Eagles out to claw Amavubi to boost 2026 WC dream

Nigeria will go head-to-head with Rwanda in the 2026 Fifa World Cup qualification (Group C) match scheduled to be played at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium on Saturday.

Kick-off is at 6pm CAT.

CURRENT FORM

The Super Eagles snapped a five-match winless run across all competitions, including victories in penalties, when they claimed a 2-0 win over Congo-Brazzaville at the 2024 Chan clash on 19 August.

Nigeria are placed fourth in the Group C standings, having collected seven points from six matches and it is imperative for the West African giants to secure wins over Rwanda, and South Africa (9 September) to keep their World Cup dream alive.

Meanwhile, Rwanda are winless in their last four matches across all competitions after succumbing to a 2-0 defeat to Algeria in a friendly match on 9 June and it was also their second successive defeat.

Amavubi are placed second in the Group C standings, having collected eight points from six matches and a victory over Nigeria would enhance the East African side's ambitions of qualifying alive with three matches left.

TEAM NEWS

Nigeria saw their camp attain full capacity on Wednesday evening, with the arrivals of Raphael Onyedika and Christantus Uche, and Victor Osimhen, Samuel Chukwueze and Tolu Arokodare.

Rwanda, on the other hand, made changes in their squad before travelling to Uyo, Nigeria, as coach Adel Amrouche dropped Claude Smith Kayibanda, Djabilu Ishimwe and David Niyo. Kayibanda was ruled out due to an injury.

WHAT WAS SAID?

Nigeria captain William Troost-Ekong

“You take one step at a time. We have Rwanda to play on Saturday, and there are three points there," Troost-Ekong told NFF media.

"After that is concluded, then we begin to think of South Africa. There are three points also in there when we play in Bloemfontein, but that is a few days after Rwanda. Rwanda comes first.

“We will do our very best to go all out and win the remaining four matches. Hopefully, that will be good enough to take us there.”

Rwanda Football Association (FERWAFA) president Fabrice Shema

"For me, losing is not an option, that's what I told the players," Shema, who is in Nigeria with the team, said on the Rwandan publication, Isimbi.

"The atmosphere is good and the coach (Adel Amrouche) told me that the players seem happy with the new manager, because they already know him from football.

"Last year we beat Nigeria here at home [in the 2025 Afcon qualifier played in Uyo], so we can do it again."

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Nigeria and Rwanda have met eight times across all competitions since their first-ever meeting in June 2004.

The Super Eagles have dominated this rivalry, having won three matches compared to Amavubi's one victory, while four games ended in a draw.

The last meeting between the two teams ended in a 2-0 victory in favour of Nigeria in the 2026 World Cup qualifier played in Kigali on March 21.