Nigeria strengthened their bid for a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a hard-fought 1–0 victory over Rwanda in a qualifying match on Saturday.
The Super Eagles dominated for long spells but found Rwanda difficult to break down. The decisive moment came in the second half when forward Tolu Arokodare converted from close range, sending the home crowd into celebration and ensuring Nigeria collected maximum points.
Rwanda pressed for an equaliser late in the game, but Nigeria’s defence remained composed to secure the win. The result lifts the Super Eagles’ hopes of qualification while leaving Rwanda with added work to do in the group.
Head coach Finidi George praised his side’s determination, saying: “Every point matters at this stage. The players showed character and belief, and I’m proud of the way they handled the pressure.”
Nigeria now travel to Bloemfontein for a decisive clash against South Africa on 9 September, a fixture expected to have major implications for the group standings.
