2025 AFCON Qualifiers: Eguavoen Tells Super Eagles Why Beating Rwanda Is Important
Super Eagles of Nigeria head coach Augustine Eguavoen has stressed that his team’s target is to beat Rwanda in their last 2025 AFCON qualifiers even though the Nigerian side have already secured their place in the tournament.
Note that the Super Eagles of Nigeria qualified for the 2025 AFCON after drawing 1-1 with Benin Republic on Thursday, a result that helped the Nigerian side to finish top of Group D.
Now, the Super Eagles have the opportunity to play for pride against Rwanda who lost their last game against Libya last week. Despite the lost, Amavubi have a chance to qualify for the tournament by beating the Super Eagles at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium today, November 18, and hoping that Libya beat the Benin Republic.
Ahead of the game against Rwanda, Eguavoen said the Super Eagles are aiming to win to maintain the team’s positive momentum as they look ahead to the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, which will resume in March 2025.
“Although I’m uncertain about my position when the World Cup qualifiers begin, our goal is to win every game,” he stated during the pre-match interview on Sunday.
The Super Eagles will face Rwanda without three key players: Ademola Lookman, a 2024 CAF Player of the Year nominee, who departed the camp after sustaining a minor injury; Ola Aina, who returned to England at his club’s request; and goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, who was excused due to personal reasons following the passing of his father.
Eguavoen is confident that the absence of these players will not hinder the team’s momentum.
He noted: “Lookman is slightly injured and unable to play. He mentioned he was at 70 per cent.”
Regarding Aina, Eguavoen mentioned, “Nuno (Espirito, Nottingham Forest coach) reached out to me, wanting Ola to come back since we had already qualified. I agreed; it’s part of building good relationships with club sides.”
Note that the Super Eagles vs Rwanda clash will kick off at 5 p.m. Nigerian time later today, November 18.
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