Rwanda narrowly missed out on qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after they battled back from a goal down to beat Nigeria 2-1 at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium on Monday, November 18.
Augustine Eguavoen’s side took the lead through Samuel Chukwueze on 59 minutes, but two quick-fire goals from Ange Mutsinzi and Innocent Nshuti saw the Wasps record a first-ever win over the Super Eagles.
The 2023 AFCON finalists saw their unbeaten run in qualifying come to an end, though they still finished top of Group D, three points ahead of Benin, who drew 0-0 with Libya in their concurrent match to pip Rwanda on goal difference.
Nigeria came into the clash on the back of a 1-1 draw with Benin four days earlier, while Rwanda looked to keep their slim qualification hopes alive after suffering a 1-0 defeat to Libya last week which left them two points behind the Cheetahs in third place.
The hosts were poor in the first half for the most part as they weren’t enterprising enough on the ball and looked static off it.
Maduka Okoye had the first save to make on 21 minutes as Gilbert Mugisha miscued a cross straight into his gloves after cutting inside from the left and going past Kelechi Iheanacho.
The home crowd had to wait until the final minute of the half to see their team create the first real chance when Iheanacho forced Fiacre Ntwari into a sharp save with a shot on the turn from inside the box following good work from Moses Simon on the left to get in a cross.
The Wasps would threaten in the opening minute of the second half as Mugisha latched onto a cross on the left and sent a first-time volley well over the crossbar.
Ntwari pulled off a fantastic save on 50 minutes to keep out Victor Boniface’s towering header from a corner and William Troost-Ekong could only steer the rebound over the bar with his head.
Read also: African Military Games kick -off in Abuja
But the Super Eagles eventually made the breakthrough just before the hour mark as Chukwueze surged past three defenders through the middle and lashed a shot past Ntwari from inside the area.
The visitors refused to throw in the towel though, and they hit back on 72 minutes from a free-kick which was headed home by Mutsinzi at the back post.
The Nigeria supporters were left stunned just three minutes later as Rwanda struck again. Nshuti showed great composure to nutmeg Okoye from an angle on the left after latching onto a deflected cross.
Frank Onyeka was presented with two late chances to equalise, but he curled a shot straight at substitute goalkeeper Clement Buhake from 20 yards out before blazing a first-time volley well over the targets moments later.
