Victor Osimhen delivered a masterclass performance, scoring twice as Nigeria secured a crucial 2-0 victory over Rwanda, reigniting their hopes for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Under mounting pressure after four winless qualifiers, the Super Eagles needed a statement win in Kigali. New head coach Eric Chelle, in his debut competitive match, fielded a strong lineup featuring Premier League stars like Alex Iwobi, Wilfred Ndidi, and Ola Aina.
Nigeria took control early, breaking the deadlock with a well-executed set piece. Ademola Lookman’s precise free-kick found Osimhen, who finished expertly at the back post. Despite Rwanda’s dominant possession, the Super Eagles created the better chances, with Troost-Ekong going close and goalkeeper Fiacre Ntwari denying Moses Simon.
Osimhen struck again just before halftime, outpacing his marker and calmly chipping the ball past Ntwari to double Nigeria’s lead. Rwanda, who had beaten Nigeria in November, struggled to respond in the second half as the Super Eagles expertly saw out the win.
With this victory and South Africa’s triumph over Lesotho, Nigeria climbs to fourth in Group C, just one point behind Rwanda, setting up a thrilling clash against Zimbabwe next week.
