Super Eagles captain, William Troost-Ekong has emphasized the team’s determination to secure a much-needed victory against Rwanda in Friday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier at the Amahoro Stadium, Kigali. The Nigerian skipper insists that the squad is fully focused on revitalizing their qualification campaign.
“We’ve seen some reports, but we are not distracted. I played in the last game in Kigali, which ended goalless, but this time, we know a draw won’t be enough,” Ekong said on Wednesday.
“Our goal is to take all three points and bring our campaign back to life. We are not concerned with past records—we are only focused on securing World Cup qualification.”
The Super Eagles have yet to register a victory on Rwandan soil, with their last three encounters ending in draws. The teams played out a 1-1 stalemate in a 2006 World Cup qualifier at the Amahoro Stadium, while a 2011 AFCON qualifier at Stade Regional de Nyamirambo finished 0-0. Their most recent meeting in September 2023 also ended goalless during the 2025 AFCON qualifiers.
All 23 invited players have settled into camp at the Radisson Blu Hotel, with full training sessions underway. The squad held its second training session on Wednesday and will have another run-out at the Amahoro Stadium on Thursday evening.
Among the early arrivals was Victor Osimhen, Nigeria’s 2015 U-17 World Cup hero, who has netted 23 goals in 47 international appearances. He will be joined in attack by reigning CAF Player of the Year Ademola Lookman, alongside Simon Moses, Samuel Chukwueze, Sadiq Umar, and new invitee Tolu Arokodare, all set to test Rwanda’s defense.
FIFA has appointed Moroccan referee Jalal Jayed to handle the encounter, which kicks off at 5 PM Nigeria time. Jayed officiated Nigeria’s 2-1 friendly win over Ghana in Marrakech on March 22, 2024, a historic victory that marked the first time in 18 years that the Super Eagles defeated the Black Stars.
Friday’s match will also mark the debut of new head coach Éric Sékou Chelle, who takes charge of the Super Eagles for the first time. With Nigeria aiming to secure the only automatic ticket from Group C to next summer’s World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico, a win in Kigali is crucial to their qualification hopes.
