By Wale Mustapha
In the wake of Nigeria’s 2-1 defeat to Rwanda, Interim Head Coach Augustine Eguavoen has reassured Nigerians that the loss will not derail the Super Eagles’ ambitions in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Despite the disappointing result, Eguavoen remains optimistic, stressing that the team will learn from the setback and come back stronger.
The Super Eagles currently sit fifth in Group C with just three points from four matches, having recorded three draws and one defeat.
However, Eguavoen emphasized that the team is focused on improving and adjusting their approach for future encounters, including their upcoming clash with Rwanda in March 2025.
“We’ve taken a hard lesson from this defeat. We will assess our performance, refine our strategies, and be better prepared for the next match,” Eguavoen told media.
“This loss will not affect our trajectory in the World Cup qualifiers. We are committed to pushing forward and delivering the results Nigerians expect.”
Although Eguavoen’s status as head coach beyond 2025 remains uncertain, he assured that the team would adopt a fresh strategy for their upcoming qualifier against Rwanda, with a focus on achieving a positive result.
As the Super Eagles prepare for the crucial World Cup qualifiers, Eguavoen’s message is clear: the team will regroup, learn from past mistakes, and continue their pursuit of qualification for the 2026 World Cup.
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.
