Chijioke Gabriel
Nigeria scraped a narrow 1-0 victory over Rwanda on Saturday in Uyo, keeping alive their push for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The only goal of the match came in the 51st minute when Tolu Arokodare capitalized on a loose ball in the penalty area, slotting it past Rwanda’s goalkeeper to give Nigeria a crucial lead.
The Amavubi of Rwanda proved stubborn opponents, frustrating the Super Eagles with compact defending and swift counterattacks. Nigeria nearly doubled their lead late on, but Ademola Lookman’s curling effort was denied by the woodwork.
Rwanda’s goalkeeper’s several saves also ensured the side remained in contention throughout the cagey second half.
The closing stages were tense as Rwanda pressed for an equaliser, but solid defending from substitute William Troost-Ekong and Calvin Bassey ensured Nigeria held firm until the final whistle.
The win rekindles Nigeria’s hopes with three more games to go.
Nigeria will now turn their attention to their next qualifier on Tuesday away at South Africa, with hopes of consolidating their chances of sealing a ticket to the World Cup.
Below is the standing for Group C so far:
2026 World Cup Qualifier, Group C Standings after games with 3 matches left for each country:
South Africa 16Points
Benin 11Points
Nigeria 10Points
Rwanda 8Points
Lesotho 6Points
Zimbabwe 4Points