Nigeria's Super Eagles have reignited their hopes of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, to be held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, with a crucial 2-0 victory over Rwanda. This win follows a rocky start to their qualifying campaign, where they secured only three points from their initial four matches. The absence of key striker Victor Osimhen due to injury had been a significant setback during those earlier games.

Osimhen's return proved pivotal in the match against Rwanda. He opened the scoring in the 11th minute, capitalizing on a free-kick from Ademola Lookman. Osimhen then doubled the lead in first-half injury time, exploiting hesitant defending to dink the ball past the onrushing goalkeeper. The victory propels Nigeria to fourth place in Group C.

Super Eagles' head coach, Eric Chelle, emphasized the importance of maintaining focus ahead of their next match against Zimbabwe. Chelle, the first non-Nigerian African to manage the Super Eagles, praised his players' adaptability and effort in the win against Rwanda. He acknowledged that the team needs to improve, highlighting the need for further work despite the victory. Chelle also noted the team's tactical flexibility, revealing that they employed two or three different systems during the game.

Looking ahead, Nigeria will host Zimbabwe at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo. Coach Chelle has called for full concentration and preparation as they face Michael Nees’ Zimbabwe side.