- Super Eagles Secure First Win in 2026 World Cup Qualifiers.
- Eric Chelle Highlights Areas for Improvement Despite Victory.
- Nigeria Eyes Back-to-Back Wins Ahead of Zimbabwe Clash.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria kicked off their journey in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers with a solid 2-0 win against Rwanda at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali.
Star striker Victor Osimhen shone brightly, netting two goals in the first half to secure Nigeria’s first victory in the qualifiers.
With this win, the Super Eagles climbed to fourth place in their group, now sitting on six points.
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Osimhen wasted no time making his mark, scoring in the 11th minute thanks to a perfectly placed free kick from Ademola Lookman.
Later in the half, he took advantage of a swift counterattack, receiving a well-timed pass from Samuel Chukwueze before deftly chipping the ball over goalkeeper Fiacre Ntwari.
The Super Eagles’ defense held strong in the second half, ensuring a clean sheet and a crucial win.
Eric Chelle Reviews Nigeria’s Performance Against Rwanda
Head coach Eric Chelle, at the helm of the Super Eagles for the first time, recognized the team’s effort but emphasized the need for improvement.
Even with the victory, he noted that the squad had limited time to prepare for the match.
Chelle shared during the post-match press conference: “It was a tough game. Rwanda has a strong team, and I’m proud of my players’ performance. We only had about four days together, with just two full training sessions. We maintained good possession in the second half, and the players did well,”
The Nigerian head coach also mentioned that he tried out different tactical formations to find the best fit for the team.
“This is just the beginning. We’re working on establishing our system, and we experimented with two different formations today. We need to improve, and we’ll get back to training to prepare for the next game,” he added.
Super Eagles’ World Cup Qualification Ambitions
Chelle made just a few tweaks to the squad, bringing in Tolu Arokodare as the only new addition.
Read Also: 2026 WCQ: Rwanda v Nigeria – Eric Chelle’s Dual-Striker Tactic: A Game-Changer for the Super Eagles
Still, he made it clear that every player has a vital role in making Nigeria’s World Cup dreams a reality.
“Every player in this team matters. Our aim is to qualify for the FIFA World Cup, and to do that, we need to work as a unit. The team showed great performance today, and my job is to make the right calls on tactics and player choices,” he shared.
When asked about Rwanda’s weaknesses, the Super Eagles coach chose to stay tight-lipped, focusing instead on enhancing his own team. “I won’t get into Rwanda’s weaknesses. My priority is to evaluate and better my own squad,” he wrapped up.
What’s Next for the Super Eagles?
After this vital win in the World Cup qualifier, the Super Eagles are now setting their sights on their upcoming match against Zimbabwe.
This game is scheduled to take place at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Tuesday, where Chelle’s team will be looking for another win to bolster their chances in the FIFA World Cup qualification race.
With the momentum on their side, the Super Eagles of Nigeria need to keep pushing forward if they want to secure a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
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