As the clock ticks down to Friday’s pivotal 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying clash at Amahoro Stadium, Nigeria’s Super Eagles are brushing aside historical hurdles and zeroing in on a single goal: securing three points against Rwanda.
Team captain William Ekong emphasized the squad’s determination ahead of the matchup, dismissing past results as irrelevant to their current mission.“We’ve seen the stats about Nigeria never beating Rwanda here, but that doesn’t faze us,” Ekong said. “I played in the last game in Kigali, which ended 0-0, but a draw won’t cut it this time. We’re here to win and kickstart our campaign.”
The Super Eagles, three-time African champions, have yet to claim victory on Rwandan soil, with encounters stretching back two decades—including a 1-1 draw in a 2006 World Cup qualifier and scoreless stalemates in 2011 and September 2024.
Ekong added, “History books don’t concern us. Our focus is clear: qualifying for the World Cup.” Nigeria’s campaign has stumbled out of the gate, with no wins in their first four matches in Group C. Friday’s result could prove a turning point as they vie for the group’s sole automatic ticket to the finals in the USA, Canada, and Mexico next summer.
The full 23-man squad settled into their Radisson Blu base by Tuesday night, ensuring all players will participate in Wednesday’s second training session and Thursday’s official practice at Amahoro Stadium.
The match, set to kick off at 6 p.m. local time (5 p.m. Nigeria time), will be officiated by Moroccan referee Jalal Jayed, who turns 38 two days later. Jayed previously oversaw Nigeria’s 2-1 friendly win over Ghana in Marrakech on March 22, 2024—a rare victory against their rivals after 18 years.