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Rwanda confident of denying Nigeria’s vital World Cup qualification points

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Rwanda confident of denying Nigeria’s vital World Cup qualification points

By Dayo Awoniyi

Rwanda’s assistant coach, Eric Nshimiyimana, has expressed confidence that the Super Eagles will fail to secure the three points they need in Friday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier.

Speaking ahead of the match at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, Nshimiyimana stated that Rwanda are not under pressure, having already collected seven points in their opening four games.

He added that the onus was on Nigeria to secure the points, but he was confident that they would fall short in the upcoming fixture.

“We’re not under any pressure because we already have our 7 points. Nigeria are the ones under pressure, they need the points, but they will not get it,” Nshimiyimana said.

Rwanda, currently sitting atop Group C in the qualifiers, will aim to replicate their past successes against Nigeria on home soil.

The Amavubi have previously frustrated the Super Eagles, and Nshimiyimana’s comments suggest they are ready to continue that trend.

Nigeria, who are in fifth place with just three points from four games, must win Friday’s match to keep their World Cup hopes alive.

The clash is set to be a crucial one for both teams, with Rwanda hoping to extend their unbeaten run and Nigeria needing the victory to stay in contention for qualification.

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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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