AFCON 2025 qualifier: Nigeria fails to tame Rwanda in Kigali
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Nigeria’s Super Eagles on Tuesday failed to defeat Rwanda in a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier played in Kigali, the Rwandan capital.
The match ended goalless as both countries failed to find the back of the net.
The two teams gave a good account of themselves with their goalkeepers making beautiful saves to ensure neither side scored.
What seemed like a goal off a header by the Super Eagles’ Boniface from Ademola Lookman’s throw-in in the first half was ruled out by the referee.
The Super Eagles had thrashed the Cheetahs of Benin Republic 3-0 in the 2025 African Cup Of Nations at the Godswill Akpabio stadium, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on Saturday, thanks to a brace by Ademola Lookman and a line strike by Victor Osimhen.
The team have been having mixed runs in the recent past and failed to replicate the super footballing prowess of the past despite parading an array of stars across top football clubs in Europe.
Many blame the situation on poor management and corruption.
The Nigerian Football Federation is yet to fill the Chief coach’s vacancy since the resignation of Finidi George a few months ago following poor runs during his brief stint in charge.
He had led the team to play only two matches as the national team coach but failed to win in any.
Moreover, the decision of the NFF to hire a foreign technical adviser for the team contributed to his decision to step aside from his position as the Super Eagles coach.
Only recently, the NFF announced the appointment of Germany’s Bruno Labbadia as the new Head Coach.
“Bruno Labbadia will be the 37th head coach of the Super Eagles. The NFF confirms an agreement with the German coach to lead the senior national team,” the NFF’s statement read.
However, the German pulled out because the deal had not been concluded and no contract had been signed before the announcement.
Such administrative bungling has characterised the running of the beautiful game in Nigeria.
Meanwhile, Augustine Eguavoen, the interim coach, after thrashing Benin Republic on Saturday, had boasted about the invincibility of the team, citing the exceptional quality of the players.
Nevertheless, in the 2025 AFCON qualifier, Nigeria still leads Group D with four points, while Rwanda occupies the second spot with two points.
