A first-half brace from Napoli’s on-loan star Victor Osimhen secured Nigeria a 2-0 victory over Rwanda in Kigali, giving the Super Eagles a vital three points in their bid to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
Osimhen’s performance helped Nigeria revitalize their World Cup campaign, as they picked up their first win of the qualifiers. Meanwhile, Rwanda’s Amavubi suffered their second loss of the campaign.
The Super Eagles struck early, with Osimhen finding the net in the 11th minute. Unmarked, he capitalized on a well-delivered free kick from Ademola Lookman, firing past Rwanda’s goalkeeper, Fiarce Ntwari, to give Nigeria the lead.
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Rwanda’s goalkeeper was kept busy, with Ntwari managing to deny Moses Simon in the 24th minute, parrying away a long-range shot aimed at the top corner.
Rwanda’s coach, Adel Amrouche, was forced into a substitution in the 37th minute after Samuel Gueulette appeared to pick up an injury, with Gilbert Mugisha replacing him.
Osimhen then struck again in the third minute of added time in the first half. Samuel Chukwueze provided a pinpoint assist, and Osimhen, left unmarked, calmly fired past Ntwari from just outside the box to double Nigeria’s lead.
Rwanda struggled to cope with the relentless pressure from the Super Eagles, who exploited the host’s disorganized defense to take full control of the match.
With this win, Nigeria moves into fourth place in Group C, four points behind leaders South Africa, who also secured a victory over Lesotho in Polokwane on Friday.
