World Cup Qualifying - Africa | Group Stage

Mar 21, 2025 at 4pm UK

Stade Amahoro

Rwanda vs Nigeria

Match Preview

Rwanda are dreaming after four games of World Cup qualifying, with the Amavubi sitting joint top of Group C on seven points with South Africa and Benin ahead of Friday's clash with the African giants.

Despite losing 1-0 to Benin last June, Wasps responded with a narrow away win over Lesotho to put themselves in a promising position ahead of the first of two home games.

New coach Adel Amrouche, who has never been to a World Cup finals, will be hoping for a win in his first game in charge of the East Africans as qualification reaches the halfway stage.

Rwanda will be hoping to capitalise on the two games in Kigali, with Bafana Bafana hoping for the best from their next two games, when they take on Lesotho and Gernot Rohr's ambitious Benin.

Success in either game could put the Amavubi in a strong position, so the home fans could be forgiven for thinking ahead ahead of Nigeria's visit.

To say that the Super Eagles have underperformed is an understatement, as the African giants have started their campaign without a win in four games, drawing three and losing 2-1 in Benin despite taking the lead through Raphael Onyedika.

Chelle's appointment in January, seven months after the June 2024 setback, was met with mixed reactions in the West African nation, and the Abidjan-born Mali coach is keen to get results to win over the sceptics.

A successful debut for the Super Eagles is almost essential for the three-time African champions, who go into Friday's game in Kigali with three points, if they are to maintain realistic hopes of qualifying for 2026 after missing out in Qatar.

Nigeria have never been absent from consecutive finals since their debut in the United States in 1994, qualifying in 2010 after narrowly missing out four years earlier, and this time around, with the continent's best players of the last two years - Victor Osimhen (2023) and Ademola Lookman (2024) - on board, they will be keen to avoid the embarrassment.

However, the Super Eagles, who are winless in their last three meetings with Rwanda and were beaten 2-1 at home in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in November 2024, must secure their first win in East Africa to boost their World Cup chances.

Recent Performance

Rwanda World Cup Qualifying - Africa form:DWLW

Rwanda form (all competitions):LWLWLW

Nigeria World Cup Qualifying - Africa form:DDDL

Nigeria form (all competitions):WWDLDW

Team News

Yunusu Nshimiyimana and Fitina Omborenga are expected to miss the match against Nigeria on compassionate grounds following the death of their father on Monday.

Rwanda, the second-lowest scorers in Group C with three goals, have had different goalscorers, with Innocent Nshuti, Gilbert Mugisha and Jojea Kwizera all finding the net for the Wasps.

Fiacre Ntwari, who has conceded just once in qualifying, could record his fourth clean sheet for the East Africans if they can keep the Super Eagles off the scoresheet.

It will be interesting to see if Chelle opts for the 4-3-1-2 formation he used in charge of Mali at the last Cup of Nations, or if he opts for a 4-3-3 or 4-4-2 with the continental giants.

Having missed Nigeria's draw with South Africa and defeat to Benin in June 2024 through injury, Osimhen, who has scored 26 goals for Galatasaray this season, will be looking to find the net for the first time in the World Cup qualifiers in Kigali.

In-form Nantes winger Moses Simon could start in a front three alongside reigning African Footballer of the Year Lookman and Osimhen, or as one of the wingers if Chelle opts for a 4-4-2 formation.

The lack of players at the back means that the back four is almost set, with Ola Aina and Bruno Onyemaechi as full-backs flanking William Troost-Ekong and Calvin Bassey.

Possible starting lineup

Rwanda possible starting lineup:

Ntwari; Niyigena, Mutsinzi, Manzi, Niyomugabo; Sahabo, Bizimana, Rubanguka; Rafael, Nshuti, Mugisha

Nigeria possible starting lineup:

Nwabali; Aina, Troost-Ekong, Bassey, Onyemaechi; Ndidi, Onyedika, Iwobi; Simon, Osimhen, Lookman