Nigeria's Super Eagles secured a vital 1-0 victory over Rwanda in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier on Saturday at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo. The crucial win, sealed by a second-half goal from substitute Tolu Arokodare, significantly boosted Nigeria’s aspirations for a spot in the upcoming World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

The match was marked by several notable tactical decisions from Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle. In a surprising move, Chelle benched regular captain William Troost-Ekong, opting instead for 20-year-old Benjamin Fredrick to partner Calvin Bassey in central defence. Midfielder Wilfred Ndidi led the team as stand-in captain for the night. The starting lineup also featured a strong attacking trio of Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, and Moses Simon, with goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali recovering from an injury scare to start. Frank Onyeka and Alex Iwobi completed the midfield alongside Ndidi. Chelle later defended his decision regarding Troost-Ekong, stating it was his coaching choice and that he believed in all his players. Troost-Ekong was eventually introduced as a late substitute.

Nigeria started the match with intent, applying early pressure on the Rwandan defense. An eighth-minute goal from Victor Osimhen, following a pass from Ademola Lookman, was disallowed for offside, much to the dismay of the home crowd. Moses Simon and Alex Iwobi also tested Rwandan goalkeeper Fiacre Ntwari with efforts from distance. A significant blow for the Super Eagles came in the 35th minute when star striker Victor Osimhen, who plays for Napoli, was forced off due to an ankle injury and replaced by Cyriel Dessers, a new signing for Panathinaikos. Despite Nigeria's dominance in possession and chances created, the first half ended goalless, with Rwanda’s compact defense holding firm.

The breakthrough for Nigeria came in the second half. Tolu Arokodare, the new Wolverhampton Wanderers striker, was introduced at the start of the second half, reportedly replacing Frank Onyeka in a tactical switch. Just six minutes into the second half, in the 51st minute, Arokodare capitalized on a goalmouth scramble, blasting the ball into the net after Ola Aina's low drive was parried, sending the Uyo stadium into raptures. The goal, Arokodare’s second in four appearances for Nigeria, proved to be the winner. He was later named Man of the Match for his decisive contribution. Despite further attempts by Simon and Lookman, who were denied by a double save from Ntwari, Nigeria could not extend their lead. Rwanda made some late incursions but failed to trouble Stanley Nwabali in goal.

The victory marks Nigeria's second win in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. With this result, the Super Eagles moved up to third place in Group C, accumulating 10 points from seven matches. They are now one point behind second-placed Benin Republic, who defeated Zimbabwe 1-0, and six points adrift of group leaders South Africa, who secured a dominant 3-0 win against Lesotho. Following the match, Rwanda's head coach Adel Amrouche expressed dissatisfaction with the officiating, though he refrained from elaborating to avoid potential bans.

Looking ahead, Nigeria faces a critical