The Super Eagles of Nigeria reignited hopes of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup following a 2-0 victory over Rwanda at the Amahoro National Stadium in Kigali on Friday, March 21.  

It was a winning start for Eric Chelle thanks to Victor Osimhen’s brace, which ended Nigeria’s seven-game winless run in FIFA World Cup qualifying fixtures. The victory was  Nigeria’s first win in the qualifiers since November 2021, one that puts them back in contention for a qualifying spot in Group C of Africa’s World Cup campaign after a poor start. 

Ahead of the Super Eagles’ sixth qualifier against Zimbabwe at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo next Tuesday, here are the biggest talking points from their victory in Kigali. 

Lethal Victor Osimhen is Nigeria’s Backbone 

Osimhen’s first-half brace was the difference in Kigali. The goals took his tally to 25 goals in 45 games for Nigeria, just 12 shy of the country’s all-time top scorer, Rashidi Yekini.  

Beyond what was a man-of-the-match performance, it was Osimhen’s first appearance in the qualifiers after missing the games against Zimbabwe, Lesotho, South Africa, and Benin Republic.

His inspiring return not only secured the win but also placed his conversion rate at 0.6 goals per game in Nigeria’s colours, making him the country’s most efficient player among those with 10 or more appearances.

Super Eagles Not Entirely Convincing

Tactically, the Super Eagles were hardly convincing against Rwanda on Friday. In fact, apart from Osimhen’s heroics, there were no impressive takeaways from the performance of the West African giants. That may not be entirely unexpected, given the new system and limited training time under Chelle.  

Additionally, considering this was Nigeria’s first win on Rwandan soil after three previous failed attempts, it was a welcome result and a relief — albeit one that highlights the work still needed to be done.   

Nigeria’s World Cup Redemption is Still an Uphill Task  

The victory is a relief from all angles after a two-year winless run in World Cup qualifiers. But beyond the euphoria of getting back on track, a glance at the current standings presents a grim reality.  

Group C of Africa’s qualifiers is now halfway through its 10-match series, and fourth-placed Nigeria sits four points behind interim leaders South Africa, who have 10 points. With only the top-ranked team at the end of the qualifiers assured of an automatic ticket to the 2026 World Cup in North America, the road ahead remains tough.  

Much hinges on the difficult, but not impossible task of Nigeria winning all five of their remaining matches. And even then, the three-time African champions might still need favours from other teams in the group.