The Super Eagles of Nigeria and their final-day opponents Rwanda, have both landed at the Obong Victor Attah International Airport in Uyo ahead of Monday’s Matchday 6 clash in the final round of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.
The Amavubi still have a mathematical chance of qualifying, though their fate is not totally in their hands as they need the result in Libya to be in their favour.
Rwanda missed a big opportunity to enhance their chances when they lost at home to Libya’s Mediterranean Knights on Thursday, and can only make it to Morocco 2025 if they defeat Nigeria in Uyo and Libya win against Benin Republic’s Cheetahs in North Africa on Monday.
The Super Eagles, who are confirmed group winners, have nothing to fight for other than national pride and setting a right momentum for the more challenging World Cup qualifier.
They are more likely to play a more relaxed game against the visitors unlike the tough match against the Cheetahs at the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny in Abidjan on Thursday night.
Nigeria’s delegation flew from the Ivorian capital, Abidjan, to Uyo aboard a chartered ValueJet aircraft, arriving at 3.50pm.on Friday
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Rwanda’s delegation flew from Kigali to Lagos aboard a regular Rwandair flight, arriving at 1pm, before boarding an Ibom Air flight to Uyo. They landed in Uyo just before 5pm.
Uyo’s magnificent Godswill Akpabio Stadium is the venue, and a carnival atmosphere is expected as the Super Eagles celebrate for 90 minutes already with the AFCON ticket in the bag.
Both countries battled to a scoreless draw in their first confrontation in Kigali in September, though the jury is still out on Ademola Lookman’s first-half headed goal that was inexplicably denied by the Moroccan referee.
Incidentally, another Moroccan will be in the role of referee on Monday. 44-year-old Samir Guezzaz takes the stage in the centre at the game that kicks off at 5pm.
Guezzaz alongside his compatriots Zakaria Brinsi (assistant 1), Abdessamad Abertoune (assistant 2) and Kech Chaf Mustapha (fourth official) are scheduled to arrive in Nigeria on Saturday, same as Prosper Harrison Addo from Ghana (commissioner) and Ali Mohamed Ahmed from Somalia (referee assessor).
