Super Eagles Stumble in Kigali as Rwanda Hold Nigeria to Goalless Draw

The Super Eagles of Nigeria were held to a goalless draw by Rwanda in their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier on Tuesday. Despite dominating the match at Kigali’s Amahoro Stadium, Nigeria failed to convert numerous chances, leaving Rwanda with a crucial point.

Rwandan goalkeeper Fiacre Ntwari was the standout performer, denying Nigeria’s relentless attacks throughout the game. The Super Eagles, under interim coach Austin Eguavoen, struggled to break down the Rwandan defense despite maintaining control for much of the match.

One of the key talking points was the decision to bench star striker Victor Osimhen for the second consecutive qualifier, though he later came on as a substitute in the second half. Osimhen had played a limited role in Nigeria’s 3-0 victory over Benin Republic in the previous game, scoring the second goal after coming off the bench.

Eguavoen made only one change to the starting line-up from the previous match, replacing Alex Iwobi with Fisayo Dele-Bashiru. The Super Eagles started brightly, with Wilfred Ndidi testing Ntwari early in the game, followed by a near miss from Ademola Lookman after a mazy run past defenders.

Lookman thought he had opened the scoring in the 21st minute, but the goal was controversially ruled out for offside against Semi Ajayi. The incident sparked confusion as the ball had been played in from a throw-in by Ola Aina.

Nigeria continued to press for a breakthrough, with Victor Boniface hitting the crossbar in the 35th minute. However, Ntwari remained resolute, keeping the Super Eagles at bay.

Osimhen and Moses Simon were introduced in the second half to bolster the attack, but Ntwari stood firm, frustrating Nigeria’s hopes of securing a win.

Despite the draw, the Super Eagles remain top of Group D with four points from two matches. They will next face Libya in a double-header clash on October 6 and 14 as they continue their AFCON qualification campaign.