Samuel Chukwueze broke the deadlock for Nigeria but Austin Eguavoen’s men were unable to hold on to their lead, surrendering to a quick-fire double from Innocent Nshuti and Ange Mutsinzi to seal the win for Rwanda.
Here are 3 things we learned from the game,
1. Chukwueze shows what he’s made of
Samuel Chukwueze’s inconsistent form has long been a puzzle, with the AC Milan winger often oscillating between brilliance and blandness for both club and country.
However, his impactful cameo off the bench today, capped with a crucial goal, serves as a timely reminder of his potential. This standout performance is a strong statement from Chukwueze, staking his claim for a regular starting berth in the Super Eagles lineup.
2. Bad omen for Nigeria’s World Cup hopes
The Super Eagles’ underwhelming performance, despite home advantage, raises concerns about their World Cup qualification prospects.
With a rematch against Rwanda looming in March, Nigeria must significantly improve to secure crucial points and keep their 2026 World Cup dreams alive.
3. Boniface’s Super Eagles struggles continue
Since making his debut, the Bayer Leverkusen striker has failed to replicate his club performances at country level.
While there might be excuses that the team do not play to his strengths, such excuses cannot be tendered when he makes poor use of the chances he gets.
The execution of his actions are way off what is expected from a striker of his caliber and his supposed technical superiority barely comes to life in those actions.
