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2026 World Cup Qualifiers: Constantine predicts surprise win for ‘underestimated’ Rwanda vs Nigeria

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2026 World Cup Qualifiers: Constantine predicts surprise win for ‘underestimated’ Rwanda vs Nigeria

By Wale Mustapha

Former Rwanda head coach, Stephen Constantine, is confident that the Amavubi (Rwanda’s national team) have the quality to pull off an upset against Nigeria in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier on Friday at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali.

Constantine, who managed Rwanda between 2014 and 2015, believes that the East African nation, often underestimated due to its size, has the hunger and determination to surprise the Super Eagles.

“It’s not about size or population, but what you do with what you have, and Rwanda does that well,” Constantine said.

“I think Rwanda has been underestimated for a long time, but there is talent in the country—lots of talent.

“When you give players time and opportunities to develop, you see the results.”

Rwanda’s resilience and growth over recent years have made them a formidable force, and Constantine is hopeful that the team can use their potential to challenge Nigeria in the upcoming fixture.

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Samuel Ahmadu
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.
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