Nigeria’s Super Eagles have breathed some life into their 2026 FIFA World cup Qualifying campaign with an inspiring victory over their Rwandan opponents in Kigali.
Victor Osimhen, playing his first game in the qualifiers after Injury ruled him out in the previous fixtures, led the attack, scoring two soul lifting goals in the first half.
The Galatasaray of Turkey striker on loan from Italian side Napoli, silenced the capacity crowd just 10 minutes into the match converting on the half volley at the far post, an inch perfect freekick by Ademola Lookman.
The goal, a vintage product of a combination between immediate past African Footballer of the year Victor Osimhen and his successor Ademola Lookman highlighted the rich quality of the playing personnel in the Nigerian squad, which beats the imagination as to why the Super Eagles have to be struggling to qualify from their group
If Osimhen’s first was a perfect finish, his second was an exquisite piece of individual brilliance which is a testament of his status as one of the deadliest finishers in world football at the moment.
With the Wasps of Rwanda seemingly buoyed by the presence of president Paul Kegame among the cheering capacity crowd to box the Super Eagles to a defensive corner, Osimhen all on his own, stole the ball from the halfway line and raced upfront before intelligently chipping the ball above Rwandan keeper in the 45th minute.
The Super Eagles repelled all the Amavubis had to throw at them to ensure that the 2-0 scoreline was preserved to the end of the encounter as French-Malian Eric Chelle started his reign as Nigeria’s coach on the best possible footing.
More of the same would surely be expected from Eric Chelle and his team by Nigerian football fans on Tuesday March 25 when the Super Eagles who have moved to fourth on the group C log with six points, take on their counterparts from Zimbabwe at the Goodwill Akpabio stadium stadium in Uyo
Editor Paul Akhagbemhe
