Rwanda’s Head Coach, Adel Amrouche, has expressed disappointment following his team’s narrow 1-0 defeat to the Super Eagles of Nigeria in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match played at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Saturday. The result strengthened Nigeria’s hopes of securing a place at the tournament, while dealing a blow to Rwanda’s campaign.
The keenly contested match saw the Super Eagles dominate large portions of play, but they struggled to convert their chances until a decisive strike sealed the win. The victory pushed Nigeria into third place in Group C with 10 points, reigniting their qualification hopes ahead of a crucial away clash against group leaders South Africa, who sit top with 16 points.
Speaking during the post-match press conference, Amrouche admitted that his side fell short in applying enough pressure on the Nigerians. He noted that the Wasps respected the Super Eagles too much on the pitch, which allowed their opponents to dictate the tempo of the game. Despite the setback, the coach commended his players for their fighting spirit and promised a stronger response in their next fixtures.
One standout performer for Rwanda was their goalkeeper, who put up a series of brilliant saves to deny Nigeria from extending their lead. Amrouche singled him out for praise, describing his resilience as a key factor that kept the Wasps in contention throughout the encounter. The shot-stopper’s heroics drew applause even from sections of the Nigerian fans in Uyo, who recognized his contributions in keeping the scoreline respectable.
Amrouche also acknowledged the quality of the Nigerian side, admitting that the Super Eagles posed constant threats with their pace and technical ability. However, he stressed that Rwanda must learn from the defeat and improve their tactical discipline if they are to keep their World Cup dream alive.
For Nigeria, the hard-fought victory offers renewed momentum as they prepare to face South Africa in a potentially decisive clash on Tuesday. With the group standings still finely poised, the Super Eagles know that securing maximum points in Johannesburg will be critical to closing the gap on the leaders and maintaining their qualification ambitions.
Rwanda, on the other hand, will return to the drawing board in search of consistency, as they aim to bounce back in their remaining group games. Amrouche urged his players and fans not to lose hope, insisting that the qualifiers are far from over and that his team still has an opportunity to compete strongly for a place at the 2026 World Cup.
