Mustapha Habeeb
November 18th, 2024
Nigeria’s Super Eagles, already assured of their 2025 AFCON ticket and top spot in Group D, will still pursue victory against Rwanda on Monday, according to head coach Augustine Eguavoen.
Eguavoen emphasized that sustaining momentum is crucial, especially with the 2026 World Cup qualifiers resuming in March 2025. “When the World Cup qualifiers will come, I don’t know if I will be in charge or not but we want to win every game,” he stated.
The Super Eagles will be without Ademola Lookman, Ola Aina, and Stanley Nwabali for the Rwanda match. Lookman picked up a knock, Aina returned to England at his club’s request, and Nwabali was excused due to family bereavement.
Eguavoen downplayed the impact of these absences. “He (Lookman) is slightly hurt and can’t play…he said that he is at 70 per cent,” he explained. Regarding Aina, Eguavoen noted, “Nuno (Espirito, Nottingham Forrest coach) called me, and he wanted Ola to return since we had already qualified. I sanctioned it.”
The Super Eagles are aware that Rwanda will be their next opponents in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign. Monday’s match will see Maduka Okoye’s return and potential starts for Bright Osayi-Samuel and Bruno Onyemaechi.
Victor Osimhen, who secured Nigeria’s top spot in the pool with his goal in Abidjan, will aim to score against Rwanda and surpass Segun Odegbami’s 23-goal record.
With Lookman absent, Moses Simon, Samuel Chukwueze, Sadiq Umar, Kelechi Iheanacho, and Victor Boniface will compete for starting spots. Eguavoen’s squad remains determined to maintain their winning momentum.