Nigeria revived their chances of automatic qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after edging Rwanda 1-0 in a tense Group C clash at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Saturday.
New Wolves forward Tolu Arokodare emerged the hero, smashing home from close range six minutes after the restart to seal all three points for the Super Eagles.
The win lifts Nigeria to third in the group, leapfrogging Rwanda and closing the gap on leaders South Africa, who remain six points clear.
With three rounds of fixtures left, only the group winners are guaranteed a ticket to the finals. Nigeria’s crunch test comes on Tuesday when they face South Africa in Bloemfontein, a match they must win to stay in contention.
The Super Eagles could also benefit from a pending FIFA ruling, with Bafana Bafana at risk of losing three points for fielding an ineligible player against Lesotho in March.
Saturday’s victory was far from straightforward. Victor Osimhen had an early strike ruled out for offside before limping off in the 34th minute with a leg injury.
Nigeria struggled to break down a compact Rwandan side, with goalkeeper Fiacre Ntwari denying Moses Simon and Alex Iwobi before the break.
The breakthrough finally came when Arokodare, introduced at half-time, pounced after a scrappy sequence in the box.
He first saw a shot blocked, then reacted quickest to fire in after Lookman’s weak effort was parried.
Nigeria pushed for a second, but Ntwari produced another double save to keep Rwanda in the game. The visitors almost snatched an equaliser from a corner, only for Calvin Bassey to make a crucial block before Stanley Nwabali smothered the rebound.
The Super Eagles held firm through stoppage time to claim just their second win in seven qualifiers, easing some of the pressure on head coach Eric Chelle.
With Osimhen now a fitness doubt, Arokodare has strengthened his case for a starting role in Tuesday’s must-win encounter in Bloemfontein.
