The Super Eagles will resume their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign when they will take on Rwanda and Zimbabwe this week and next week.
The Nigerian side are in a precarious situation, as they are fifth in a qualifying group of six teams and must win their remaining matches to stand a chance of securing the only guaranteed ticket.
Ahead of the two crucial encounters, Sportingtimes.ng’s KOREDE JAMES reveals six facts about Rwanda that the Super Eagles should be concerned about…
SUPER EAGLES HAVE NEVER BEATEN RWANDA AWAY
After three visits to Rwanda either in the World Cup or Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, the Super Eagles have never recorded a win.
The Super Eagles’ first-ever away game against Rwanda was in June 2005 during the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
In their first meeting on matchday 1 in the group that also had Angola, Algeria, Gabon and Zimbabwe, an Obafemi Martins brace secured a 2-0 win for the Eagles in Abuja.
When both teams met in the second leg, Martins was once again on target as his 78th minute goal rescued a 1-1 draw for the Super Eagles.
Nigeria’s second encounter against Rwanda away was in the first round, first leg of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, which ended 0-0.
Also, in the first leg of the AFCON 2025 qualifiers played in September 2024, the Eagles could only settle for another 0-0 draw away to Rwanda.
SUPER EAGLES HAVE SCORED ONLY ONE GOAL AWAY AGAINST RWANDA
In the Super Eagles’ three previous visits to Rwanda they have only managed to score one goal.
The only goal was scored by Obafemi Martins in a 1-1 draw in 2005, in the second leg of the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
The Eagles’ second visit, which was in the first round of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, ended 0-0.
Their most recent visit to Rwanda was the first leg in the AFCON 2025 group stage qualifiers, which also ended 0-0.
RWANDA DID NOT LOSE TO SUPER EAGLES IN AFCON 2025 QUALIFIERS
If there is one thing that will give Rwanda confidence ahead of this month’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match in Kigali, it is their performance against the Super Eagles during the AFCON 2025 qualifiers.
The Amavubi recorded one win (in Uyo) and one draw (in Kigali) against the three-time AFCON winners.
In their first contest in the AFCON 2025 qualifiers in Kigali, both teams settled for a 0-0 draw.
When the two teams met in the final fixture in Uyo — which was, however, inconsequential for the Super Eagles who had already qualified — Rwanda came from 1-0 down to win 2-1.
RWANDA ARE FOUR POINTS CLEAR OF SUPER EAGLES IN 2026 WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS
After four rounds of matches in Group C of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Rwanda are in the top position with seven points.
The Super Eagles, who have played the same number of games, are fifth on three points.
One of the things the Super Eagles need to be concerned about going into the clash in Kigali is that Rwanda are four points ahead of them.
While it is a must-win situation for the Super Eagles, if they hope to keep their qualifying campaign alive, Rwanda would feel a draw would not be a bad result and look to frustrate Nigeria with defensive football.
RWANDA ARE YET TO CONCEDE AT HOME IN 2026 WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS
One thing the Super Eagles must do — which, so far, no other team has managed in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers — is to score against Rwanda away.
After two home games in the ongoing World Cup qualifiers, Rwanda are yet to concede.
Their first home fixture was against Zimbabwe on matchday 1 in November 2023 and it finished 0-0.
On matchday 2, Rwanda were at home again, this time against South Africa, which the Amavubi won 2-0.
SUPER EAGLES FAILED TO SECURE TICKET WHEN PREVIOUSLY IN SAME WORLD CUP QUALIFYING GROUP WITH RWANDA
The first time the Super Eagles and Rwanda were drawn in the same group for the FIFA World Cup qualifiers was the race to the 2006 tournament in Germany.
Although the Super Eagles recorded a win (2-0 in Abuja) and a draw (1-1 in Kigali) against Rwanda, they lost the World Cup qualification ticket to Angola.
The Super Eagles needed to win in their final group game against Zimbabwe in Abuja and hope Rwanda did not lose to Angola in Kigali.
Both Angola and the Eagles were tied on 18 points heading into the final qualifying fixtures but the former was ahead on head-to-head.
Despite the Super Eagles thrashing Zimbabwe 5-1, Rwanda lost 1-0 to Angola, who advanced to the World Cup courtesy of the head-to-head rule.
