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2026 World Cup Qualifiers: Yaro-Yaro Calls for focus, patience as Nigeria face Rwanda

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2026 World Cup Qualifiers: Yaro-Yaro Calls for focus, patience as Nigeria face Rwanda

By Wale Mustapha

Former Nigeria midfielder Ahmed Garba, popularly known as Yaro Yaro, has urged the Super Eagles to maintain focus and composure ahead of their crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Rwanda on Friday at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali.

Yaro Yaro, who has an extensive background in Nigerian football, emphasized the importance of patience during the match to avoid costly mistakes that Rwanda could capitalize on. He also highlighted the pressure the Amavubi will be under, given their position at the top of Group L.

“There’s no doubt that, in terms of quality, the Super Eagles are far better than Rwanda,” Yaro Yaro told Complete Sports. “In terms of experience, too, the Super Eagles stand tall. But they must stay focused, calm, and avoid rushing their play. This will help them stick to their game plan and control proceedings.”

The former Kano Pillars player acknowledged that Rwanda’s current position in the group — leading the table — could play into Nigeria’s hands, as the hosts will be desperate to maintain their status.

“Rwanda are leading the group and will be eager to beat a star-studded Nigeria side to stay on top. That pressure could work in our favour if the Eagles play smart and take advantage,” Yaro Yaro added.

With Nigeria looking to secure crucial points from their away trip to Kigali, the Super Eagles will be aiming to continue their push for qualification.

After the Rwanda clash, the team will return home to host Zimbabwe next Tuesday in a Matchday 6 fixture at Uyo, further underlining the importance of these upcoming matches in the road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

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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. He began his career 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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