World Cup Qualifiers: Super Eagles set to hold camp in Kigali ahead of Rwanda clash

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

The head coach of Nigeria’s senior men’s national team, Eric Sekou Chelle will hold his first training session as Super Eagles coach in Kigali, Rwanda

The three time African champions will camp and prepare for their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying clash against hosts Rwanda on March 21, 2025.

Players of the West Africa side are expected to fly from their respective clubs to Kigali, where the camp opens on 17 March.

“We expect the players to fly directly to Kigali from their respective clubs, latest by Tuesday, 18 March, while the technical crew, led by Eric Chelle, and the backroom staff are expected to arrive in the Rwandan capital a day earlier,” a top official of the NFF affirmed.

Eric Chelle’s foreign assistants are also flying directly to Kigali, while his Nigerian assistants and backroom staff, along with a home-based goalkeeper, will depart on Sunday, 16 March, ahead of the players.

Meanwhile, it was gathered that Eric Chelle has named Victor Osimhen and four other strikers in his 23-man squad.

He has also invited the leading goalscorer in the Belgian league, Toluwalase Emmanuel Arokodare, alongside Victor Boniface, Sadiq Umar, and Paul Onuachu, among others, for the match.

Super Eagles who currently occupy the fifth position in the 2026 World Cup African qualifying Group C on three points from four matches will host Zimbabwe in Uyo on March 24 to round off the international window.

They have qualified for six out of the last eight FIFA World Cup since their debut in 1994 with 2006 and 2022 the missing links.