Tolu Arokodare was the hero in Uyo as his decisive strike handed Nigeria’s Super Eagles a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Rwanda in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying clash on Saturday.
The three-time African champions, who came into the encounter under pressure, delivered a battling display at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium to secure all three points, though the evening was marred by the injury to star striker Victor Osimhen.
The Galatasaray forward looked lively in the opening stages and even found the back of the net, only for his effort to be ruled out for offside. Moments later, Osimhen was subjected to a series of tough challenges and was eventually forced off before halftime, raising concerns for both club and country.
Despite dominating possession, the Eagles struggled to convert their control into clear chances in the first half, which ended goalless.
The breakthrough came shortly after the restart. A scrappy sequence inside Rwanda’s box fell kindly for Arokodare, who reacted quickest to bundle home the only goal of the match in the 50th minute.
Rwanda pressed in search of an equaliser, but Nigeria’s defence held firm, while substitute attackers provided fresh energy to see out the result.
The win breathes new life into Nigeria’s qualification campaign, keeping their hopes alive as they look to secure a place at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
