Nigeria’s Super Eagles ended their Africa Cup of Nations Group D qualifiers with a surprising 2-1 defeat to Rwanda on Monday in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. Despite the loss, Nigeria had already secured qualification for AFCON 2025 in Morocco, finishing top of the group with 11 points.
Match Highlights
The game saw the Rwandan underdogs display incredible resilience, overturning Nigeria’s lead in the second half to claim a memorable victory.
- Samuel Chukwueze opened the scoring for Nigeria in the 59th minute, bringing joy to the home crowd.
- Aimable Mutinzi equalized for Rwanda in the 72nd minute, capitalizing on defensive errors.
- Just three minutes later, Imanishimwe Nshuti struck the decisive goal, completing a stunning comeback for the visitors.
First Half Struggles and Second Half Turnaround
The first half ended goalless, with both teams squandering opportunities to gain the upper hand. In the second half, the Super Eagles initially dominated possession but were undone by defensive lapses and Rwanda’s clinical finishing.
Nshuti, who emerged as Rwanda’s hero, was later booked for time-wasting as the visitors held on to secure the upset.
Group D Standings
Despite the loss, Nigeria finished at the top of Group D with a record of three wins, two draws, and one loss, earning 11 points. Benin and Rwanda both finished with 8 points, but Benin claimed the second qualification spot on goal difference. Libya rounded out the group at the bottom with 5 points.
Looking Ahead to AFCON 2025
With their place in Morocco secured, Nigeria will look to address weaknesses exposed during the qualifiers, particularly their defensive vulnerabilities. The Super Eagles remain one of the tournament favorites but will need to regroup and refocus after this unexpected defeat.
The victory marks a significant achievement for Rwanda, highlighting their potential to challenge stronger teams despite failing to qualify for the tournament.
