By Korede James
Former Rwanda head coach Stephen Constantine has warned Nigeria’s Super Eagles that numbers will not matter when both teams meet in Friday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier in Kigali.
The Amavubi are currently on top of qualifying Group C on seven points after four matches, while the Super Eagles are fifth with just three points.
Both teams were also drawn in the same group for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers with Rwanda taking four points off the Super Eagles.
Looking forward to Friday’s encounter, the 62-year-old English coach, who now handles Pakistan, assured praised Rwanda’s talent level.
“It’s not about size or population but what you do with what you have, and Rwanda do that well,” Constantine, who coached Rwanda from 2014 to 2015 told DW (via Yahoo Sport).
“I think Rwanda are underestimated to a large degree but there’s talent in Rwanda, lots of talent.”
While Nigeria’s population is estimated to be over 200 million, Rwanda has just over 14 million people.
The Super Eagles will hope to be fourth time lucky this time when they visit Rwanda, as they are yet to secure a win in their last three visits (three draws).
This is the second time the Eagles and Rwanda would clash in the same World Cup qualifying group.
The first time was in the race for the 2006 World Cup where the Super Eagles beat Rwanda 2-0 in the first leg in Abuja and drew 1-1 in Kigali in the reverse fixture.
