The Super Eagles of Nigeria ended their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, qualifier with a loss to Rwanda.
DAILY POST reports that the three-time African champions earlier confirmed their ticket at the 2025 AFCON after Rwanda’s 1-0 defeat to Libya last Thursday.
Libya had defeated Rwanda at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, thanks to Fahd Saad Mohamed’s 84th minute goal.
Following Libya’s victory over Rwanda, Nigeria drew 1-1 with Benin Republic at the Stade de Houphouet Boigny in Abidjan last Thursday to confirm their spot as Group D leaders.
Unfortunately, the Super Eagles ended their 2025 AFCON qualifying campaign with a 2-1 defeat against Rwanda on Monday evening at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo.
Both teams struggled to create meaningful clear cut chances in the first half of the encounter as the best chance of the half fell to Kelechi Iheanacho.
Iheanacho’s goal-bound effort was saved superbly by Rwanda goalkeeper, Fabrice Ntwari.
Nigeria took the lead through substitute Samuel Chukwueze one minute before the hour mark.
The AC Milan winger dribbled past three Rwandan players before slotting the ball past Ntwari.
But Rwanda fought back with Jimmy Mutsinzi equalising from a header in the 72nd minute.
The Amavubi took the lead for the first time in the game through Innocent Nshuti three minutes later as the match eventually ended in favour of the visitors.
Nigeria ended the 2025 AFCON qualifying series with three wins, two draws and 1 loss.
They defeated Benin Republic 3-0 in their first AFCON qualifier, played 0-0 in their second game against Rwanda and defeated Libya 1-0 in their third game.
The Super Eagles were, however, awarded three points against Libya in their fourth game after a ruling on October 26 by CAF’s disciplinary committee for their abandoned game against the North Africans.
Nigeria then went and played 1-1 draw against Benin Republic in their fifth game in Abidjan.
Austin Eguavoen’s men finally lost their last game in the qualifying series against Rwanda in Uyo.
Nigeria topped Group D with 11 points from six games, while Benin Republic finished second position with eight points, followed by Rwanda with eight points and Libya with five points.
However, there are question marks for Super Eagles stars and their interim head coach, Austin Eguavoen despite securing the AFCON 2025 ticket.
Their latest 2-1 home shock defeat to Rwanda has raised question marks over the calibre of some of the players in the Super Eagles squad and also if Eguavoen has done enough so far to continue as coach of the team and lead Nigeria in the remaining fixtures of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier.
Speaking with DAILY POST on Monday, respected journalist, Femi Fabunmi, called on the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, to start the process to hire a new foreign coach to lead the Super Eagles to AFCON 2025.
He also acknowledged that Eguavoen has done his best in charge of the Super Eagles as interim head coach, but should go back to the technical director position.
“Austin Eguavoen has tried his best but we need a sound foreign coach to tinker our lads going forward,” Fabunmi told DAILY POST.
“We have about a year before the next AFCON and the NFF should start the process of hiring a foreign coach for the Super Eagles so he can be in charge of the remaining World Cup qualifiers.
“Eguavoen has done his best now he can go back to the technical director position.”
Commenting on the Super Eagles’ defeat to Rwanda and the calibre of some of the players in the squad, Fabunmi insisted that there were too many missing links in Nigeria’s team against Rwanda.
According to him, the Super Eagles didn’t cover themselves in glory, adding that they punctured their FIFA Rankings with the latest defeat.
“On the shocking loss at home to Rwanda, Nigeria’s Super Eagles didn’t cover themselves in glory,” Fabunmi added.
“Yes they might have qualified but they just punctured their FIFA Rankings and made the brand a less attractive one.
“They had no business losing at home to Rwanda, their approach to that game was very watery. The game was reeking of unseriousness.
“Maybe the fact that we already qualified affected the overall performance. We need our boys to approach every game whether competitive or friendly with utmost seriousness.
“We had too many missing links in the game against Rwanda and they paid dearly for it.”
DAILY POST
