National Teams
Djihad Bizimana: Nigeria, South Africa took Rwanda lightly in World Cup qualifiers
By Wale Mustapha
Rwanda captain Djihad Bizimana has claimed that Nigeria and South Africa underestimated his team at the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup African qualifiers, a misjudgment that has disrupted the predicted outcome in Group C.
Speaking at a pre-match press conference ahead of Rwanda’s clash with South Africa in Mbombela, Bizimana said the two continental heavyweights expected an easy path to qualification, but the performance of less-favoured teams has reshaped the narrative.
“This group, from the beginning — if you look at the first game — maybe you could see that Nigeria or South Africa thought it was going to be easy for them,” Bizimana said.
“Now this shows that the level of African competition is improving for every team.”
Rwanda currently sit fourth in Group C, level on points with Zimbabwe and Lesotho, while South Africa and Nigeria, previously tipped to dominate the group, now face uncertain qualification prospects.
Bizimana praised his team’s discipline and determination, stating that the competitive balance in the group is a sign of progress in African football.
“It means that every team in the group was a contender,” he said.
“That is a very good thing for Africa, and for our team, because normally, most of the time, we are the underdogs — Rwanda, Lesotho, and Zimbabwe. Now you can see that until the last minute, it is still open. That is very good.”
Rwanda will take on South Africa in a crucial qualifier at Mbombela Stadium on Tuesday as the race for the group’s sole automatic ticket to the 2026 World Cup continues.
