By

Eniola Olatunji 

The Super Eagles of Nigeria again on Tuesday could not defeat the Amarubi (meaning wasps in English) of Rwanda at the 45,508 capacity Amahoro Stadium in Kigali in a Group D AFCON 25 qualifier as the match ended in a barren draw - goalless. 

Kaizer Chiefs FC of South African but 24 year old Rwandan Goalkeeper, Fiacre Ntwaro put in more than a five star performance saving 9 shots at close range to save Rwanda from the goal hungry Nigerians. His saves was the highest in recent time as he made only 2 saves against Libya in their last match and zero save against Lesotho in another match. 

His counterpart Nigerian Goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabali also of Chippa United in South Africa made 2 saves in the match. 

I report that 66 year old former Military Officer, Rwanda President Paul Kagame sat alone in the Presidential box arms folded exhuming the fears that he may give the Rwanda players the Master Sargent Samuel Doe of Liberia treatment by parking the Black Maria security vehicles at the stadium threatening to drive straight to jail the players for economic waste over money spent on them.

Super Eagles did much aerial battle with Ola Aina supplying the crosses but Lookman and Victor Boniface were so unlucky and substitute Victor Osimhen also fired blank.

It was unfortunate that 44 year old, Ref Karim Sabury of Morocco whose height made him look more like a Basket Baller or the Biblical Saul overruled Nigeria’s goal scored by Ademola Lookman early in the match off a brilliant throw from Ola Aina on the right flank without referring to the VAR (if there was one for there was no use of VAR throughout the match) The goal looked good but Ref Sabury indicated offside. Surely CAF will take a look at that. 

 The game was tougher in the 2nd half as both sides were desperate to upgrade. Eagles that got 9 shots at goal in the 1st half had 20 while Wasp that had 11 shots got 16 in the 2nd half. Rwanda had only a shot on target in the 1st half ended with 2 while Nigeria moved from 3 to 9 shots on target in the 2nd half.

Nigeria used the “Save Corner Code” in football as Rwanda could not get any further corner kick from the 3 made in the first half whereas Nigeria had 4 and ended with 7 corner kicks as the Rwandan Keeper frustrated every Nigerian move. 

Nigeria showed superiority in ball and match control stringing 394-377 passes; taking over ball possession to 51-49% but the foul calls were remarkable 6-14 for Rwanda and 11-16 for Nigeria.  

Nigeria’s Super Eagles met the Wasp of Rwanda five times winning twice and drawing the three other matches.  Nigeria won in 2004 by 2-0 in a world cup qualifier and they played 1-1 at the 2nd leg. Both played goalless in Kigali in the first leg of the 2012 AFCON qualifier and at the 2nd leg in Nigeria, the Super Eagles won 2-0. In the 2018 Nations cup it was goalless for both teams.

Rwanda on 25th March 2024 defeated Madagascar 2-0; Benin Republic piped the team by a lone goal in Cotonou on 6th June 2024; on 11th June 2024 Rwanda got an away win 1-0 over Lesotho and on 4th September in the 2025 AFCON Qualifier Group D it was Libya 1 Rwanda 1.  

Nigeria shockingly lost to Mali 0-2 on 29th March 2024; played 1-1 with South Africa on 7th June 2024; Benin Republic brought down the Eagles at Abidjan 2-1 on 10th June 2024 but in the Day 1 encounter of AFCON 25 qualifier Nigeria chained the Cheetahs 3-0 in Uyo - Nigeria.

Rwanda and Nigeria has some scores to settle in football as there is the 2nd leg of the 2025 AFCON qualifier in Nigeria on 15th November 2024; a world cup qualifier in Kigali on 17th March 2025 and the 2nd leg on 1st September 2025.

Later today at 5 pm Nigerian time at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium, Abidjan the Cheetahs will play against Libya in the other Group D match. 

Mali piped Eswatini by a lone goal and Mozambique defeated Guinea Bissau 2-1 in Matches already decided today.

Each country will play six matches in their groups to determine who qualifies for the 35th AFCON Finals in Morocco from 21st December 2024 to 18th January 2025 meaning no Christmas and New Year break for African football.