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2026 WCQ: Osimhen brace against Rwanda gives Nigeria World Cup Hopes
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The Super Eagles of Nigeria defeated Rwanda in the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, boosting their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification prospects thanks to Victor Osimhen’s two goals.
Nigeria came into the match with a must win to keep their World Cup hopes as they are in a bad spot on the qualifying table.
The Super Eagles before the match were fifth on the log with three points from the opening four games and risk missing out on consecutive FIFA World Cups.
Eric Chelle stuck to the basics and named a lineup most Nigerians were familiar with even though he tried to implement his style of play with the formation.
Victor Osimhen opened the scoring in the 11th minute, evading the Rwandan defence and smashing the ball home from a well-placed Ademola Lookman’s free kick.
The Galatasaray forward extended Nigeria’s advantage in the third minute of additional time, putting the country in command.
Samuel Chukwueze, his old U17 teammate, put him through on a counterattack. Osimhen took it all on his own and gently chipped the ball over Fiacre Ntwari to lead 2-0 at the break.
The Eagles continued to keep things tidy and they maintain the score sheet till the end of the match.
Super Eagles and Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen surpassed the great Segun Odegbami in the list of Nigeria’s all-time leading scorer.
This comes after his goal in the 11th minute of the Super Eagles’ 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Rwanda in Kigali.
Osimhen and Odegbami each had 23 goals going into the match.
But the Napoli loanee put the ball in the next following a free-kick cross from Ademola Lookman early in the game.
Osimhen now has 24 goals, one ahead of Odegbami.
The 26-year-old is now only behind Rashidi Yekini, who has 37 goals for the Super Eagles.
Nigeria’s all-time scorers [Top 10]
Rashidi Yekini – 37 Goals
Victor Osimhen – 25 Goals
Segun Odegbami – 23 Goals
Yakubu Aiyegbeni – 21 Goals
Ikechukwu Uche – 19 Goals
Obafemi Martins – 18 Goals
Sunday Oyarekhu – 17 Goals
Samson Siasia – 16 Goals
Odion Jude Ighalo – 16 Goals
Ahmed Musa – 16 Goals
Eric Chelle, the Super Eagles’ head coach, has announced the team’s first starting XI.
Nigeria will face Rwanda in a 2026 World Cup qualifier in Kigali on Friday evening.
Chelle has chosen the quartet of Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Simon Moses, and Samuel Chukwueze.
In midfield, Alex Iwobi and Wilfred Ndidi start, while Stanley Nwabali is the preferred goalkeeper.
The defence is made up of Ola Aina, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Calvin Bassey and captain William Troost-Ekong.
Kick off is 5pm WAT.
Eric Chelle’s first starting 11;
Nwabali; Aina, Ekong, Bassey, Osayi; Ndidi, Iwobi, Chukwueze, Simon; Lookman, Osimhen.
Twenty-one players are now in the Super Eagles Radisson Blu Hotel camp in Kigali ahead of Friday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Rwanda.
12 players reported for duty on the first day of camping on Monday.
They were joined by nine others on Tuesday morning.
The new arrivals are captain William Troost-Ekong, Wilfred Ndidi, Calvin Bassey and Ademola Lookman.
Others are: Alex Iwobi, Joe Aribo, Igoh Ogbu, Bright Osayi-Samuel and Ola Aina.
Two more players are still being expected in camp.
The Super Eagles will have their first official training session later tonight.
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