Nigeria’s Super Eagles step onto Kigali’s Amahoro Stadium pitch tonight, desperate to break a 20-year winless streak against Rwanda on their soil and reignite their shaky 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign.
The pressure is immense. With just three points from four matches, the three-time African champions sit in a precarious fifth place in Group C, trailing second-placed Rwanda by four points. A defeat could further dim their hopes of securing a ticket to the global showpiece in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
A History of Frustration in Kigali
The Rwandans have proven to be an unyielding hurdle for Nigeria in their backyard. In their last three visits to Kigali, the Super Eagles have failed to win, settling for two goalless draws and a 1-1 result over two decades.
- 2004: Nigeria drew 1-1 with Rwanda in a 2006 World Cup qualifier.
- 2011: A 0-0 stalemate in the 2013 AFCON qualifiers.
- 2024: Another goalless encounter in the 2025 AFCON qualifiers.
Super Eagles’ Struggles and the Urgency for Victory
Nigeria’s campaign has been underwhelming, with three draws and a loss, leaving them far from the automatic qualification spots. Manager Finidi George is under pressure to deliver, and anything short of victory could intensify scrutiny on his leadership.
Rwanda, currently second in the group with seven points, see this as a golden opportunity to edge closer to a historic World Cup debut. The Amavubi are unbeaten at home in this qualification campaign and will look to extend their dominance over the Super Eagles in Kigali.
Match Details & Group C Standings
- Date: Friday, March 21, 2025
- Venue: Amahoro Stadium, Kigali
- Kickoff: 7:00 PM (WAT)
Current Group C Standings:
| Position | Team | P | W | D | L | GD | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | South Africa | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | +6 | 10 |
| 2nd | Rwanda | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | +3 | 7 |
| 3rd | Benin | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | -1 | 6 |
| 4th | Lesotho | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| 5th | Nigeria | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | -1 | 3 |
| 6th | Zimbabwe | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | -7 | 1 |
Can the Super Eagles finally break their Kigali curse and keep their World Cup dream alive? The nation watches.
