Coach Augustine Eguavoen has expressed confidence in his squad’s “momentum” ahead of Nigeria’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match against Rwanda, scheduled for Tuesday at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali.
The Super Eagles kicked off their AFCON qualifying campaign with a dominant 3-0 victory over Benin Republic at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Saturday. This convincing win has set a positive tone for the team’s upcoming fixture.
Eguavoen shared his optimism, stating, “We have the right mentality now, and the mood in camp is excellent. Everyone in camp is eager for us to pick up the three points in Rwanda and stay firmly on top of the qualifying table. We are here for business and I am happy that everyone is on the same page.”
The Nigerian delegation, consisting of 23 players and team officials, departed the Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo, at 12:48 p.m. on Sunday and landed at Kigali International Airport at 4:20 p.m. Nigerian time. The delegation, led by NFF President Ibrahim Gusau, also included NFF 1st Vice President Felix Anyansi-Agwu, General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi, several Executive Committee Members, NFF staff, stakeholders, and media representatives.
Team captain William Ekong emphasized the importance of the match, saying, “There is nothing much to say other than that we are here for a purpose. Our target is the three points, and we have spoken among ourselves on the imperative of going hard for it from the first blast of the referee’s whistle.”
He acknowledged the challenge posed by the Rwandan team, noting, “It is going to be a tough game because Rwanda have a good team and got a point from their first match. We must not relent throughout the 90 minutes.”
Rwanda’s Amavubi secured a 1-1 draw against Libya’s Mediterranean Knights in their opening fixture, highlighting their competitive edge. The match against Nigeria is expected to be a test of their resilience and tactical approach.
The AFCON qualifier between Nigeria and Rwanda will kick off at 3 p.m. Rwanda time (2 p.m. Nigeria time) on Tuesday.
Stay tuned to Naijahotvibez for updates and in-depth coverage of Nigeria’s AFCON campaign.
