Super Eagles determined to secure win against Rwanda – Eguavoen

Despite already booking their ticket to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and securing the top spot in Group D, Super Eagles head coach Augustine Eguavoen has vowed his team will play for victory against Rwanda in their final qualifier on Monday.  

Nigeria’s qualification for the tournament in Morocco was confirmed ahead of their penultimate match against Benin Republic, courtesy of Libya’s 1-0 victory over Rwanda in Kigali.

With the Amavubi still needing a win to secure their own qualification, the Super Eagles have only pride on the line.

Speaking at a pre-match press conference on Sunday, Eguavoen emphasized the importance of maintaining momentum, particularly with the 2026 World Cup qualifiers resuming in March 2025.

“We want to win every game. When the World Cup qualifiers come, I don’t know if I will still be in charge, but our aim is to continue performing well,” Eguavoen stated.

The Super Eagles will, however, be without three key players for the clash. CAF Player of the Year nominee Ademola Lookman departed camp on Saturday due to a minor injury, while defender Ola Aina returned to England at the request of his club.

Goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali was also excused following the passing of his father.

Despite these absences, Eguavoen remains confident that the team will rise to the occasion, saying, “Their absence will not disrupt our momentum. The team is ready to give their best.”

The match will serve as a crucial test for Nigeria as they aim to build consistency ahead of their World Cup qualification campaign.

“He (Lookman) is slightly hurt and can’t play…he said that he is at 70 per cent,” Eguavoen said, adding that he was the one who permitted him to return to his club Atalanta.

“Nuno (Espirito, Nottingham Forrest coach) called me, and he wanted Ola to return since we had already qualified. I sanctioned it. It’s part of the relationships we are building with club sides,” the coach added.

The Super Eagles are not unaware of the fact that the Amavubi are in the same 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying group as them and that they (Rwanda) are the next opponents when the World Cup qualifying campaign resumes in March 2025.

According to the NFF, Monday’s encounter will see the return of former number one safe hands Maduka Okoye, and Bright Osayi-Samuel could start at right wing-back in the absence of Aina, with Bruno Onyemaechi at left wing-back, and Captain William Trrost-Ekong and Calvin Bassey at centre-back.

Wilfred Ndidi, Alex Iwobi, Frank Onyeka, Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Raphael Onyedika are still the options in the middle.

Victor Osimhen, whose goal earned the one point in Abidjan that took Nigeria to the top of the pool, will hope to score against the Amavubi, having come quite close several times when he joined the fray as a second-half substitute in Kigali in September.

He also has the target of overtaking former captain Segun Odegbami on the goals tally for Nigeria as they are both levelled on 23 goals.

The absence of Lookman means so much will be expected from fit-fighting and usually-dependable Moses Simon, with Samuel Chukwueze, Sadiq Umar, Kelechi Iheanacho and Victor Boniface all in the race for slots in the fore.