The Super Eagles of Nigeria kept their faint hopes of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup alive with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Rwanda’s Amavubi at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
New Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Tolu Arokodare scored the decisive goal in a goalmouth scramble, pouncing on a loose ball and volleying it over the line.
While the finish lacked finesse, Nigerian fans were more concerned with the result. The win lifts Nigeria into third place in the group with 10 points, one behind Benin Republic and six adrift of leaders South Africa.
Despite the victory, Nigeria’s path to automatic qualification remains uncertain. The Super Eagles must win all their remaining fixtures, and even then, progression is not guaranteed.
Their next test comes on Tuesday at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein, where they face long-time rivals, the Bafana Bafana of South Africa. Matches between the two sides have historically been fiercely contested. A win for South Africa would edge them closer to qualification, while a victory for Nigeria would cut the gap to just three points and revive their campaign.
