Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has claimed that he and his teammates are not bothered by the fact that the Nigerians have never secured victory in Rwanda as both teams get set for Friday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier in Kigali.
Nigeria must beat Rwanda to revive their fading hopes of qualifying, with the Super Eagles fifth in the six-team Group C while the Amavubi are on top.
Troost-Ekong says the team’s focus is on the three points at stake.
“Actually, we read about that in some places but we are not bothered,” Troost-Ekong told the Nigeria Football Federation media department, referring to the dismal record.
“I was part of the last game in Kigali which ended scoreless, but we know that we cannot afford a draw this time. Our objective is to pick the three points and bring some life back into our campaign.
“We are certainly not concerned about history books and what has happened before now. Qualification for the FIFA World Cup is our priority.”
The three-time African champions are yet to achieve victory over Rwanda in that country, going back to 20 years ago, when a 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifying match ended 1-1 at the Amahoro Stadium.
In 2011, a 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match at the Stade Regional de Nyamirambo, in the outskirts of Kigali, ended scoreless. In September last year, another 0-0 was the result of a 2025 AFCON qualifying match at the Amahoro.
Meanwhile, all 23 invited players were at the Super Eagles’ Radisson Blu camp on Tuesday night, meaning everyone would be involved in the second training on Wednesday, and in the official training session at the Amahoro Stadium on Thursday evening.
FIFA has appointed Moroccan referee Jalal Jayed, who turns 38 two days after the match, to take charge of the game that will kick off at 6pm Rwandan time (5pm Nigerian time).
Jayed took charge of a friendly match between the Super Eagles and Ghana’s Black Stars in Marrakech in March 2024, which Nigeria won 2-1.
That match marked the first time in 18 years that Nigeria would overcome Ghana in a game at senior level.
On Friday, Malian coach Eric Chelle will lead out the Super Eagles for the first time, as the FIFA World Cup qualifying series resumes.
The Super Eagles are winless in four matches, leaving them with just three points, four behind leaders Rwanda.
There is only one automatic ticket open to the group, with the team finishing second going through a torturous play-off route.
