By Wale Mustapha
Nigeria goalkeeper Adebayo Adeleye has vowed that Nigeria will leave nothing to chance in their must-win clash against the Amavubi of Rwanda in Saturday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier.
The three-time African champions, currently under pressure in Group D, will host Adel Amrouche’s side at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, knowing that anything short of victory could deal a major blow to their qualification hopes.
Nigeria were last in action at home against Zimbabwe, where they were held to a frustrating 1–1 draw, and Adeleye insists the team cannot afford a repeat outcome.
Making his return to the squad after missing out on the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), the goalkeeper underlined the players’ determination to secure maximum points.
“We are ready for Rwanda, they must fall. Everybody is ready for the game,” Adeleye told reporters in Uyo.
“We know what’s at stake, and we can’t play with this opportunity. We promise to give our all to get the points.”
The Super Eagles are chasing a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States of America.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
