Nigeria are faced with a mountainous task of booking a slot for the 2026 FIFA World Cup with the qualifiers resuming later in March.
The four-time African champions will travel to face Group C leaders Rwanda in Kigali for their clash on March 19. Former Nigeria international Ifeanyi Udeze has admitted that the Super Eagles have always struggled to beat Rwanda away.
2026 World Cup Qualifying: Group C Table through four matches
Points | |
Rwanda | 7 |
South Africa | 7 |
Benin | 7 |
Lesotho | 5 |
Nigeria | 3 |
Zimbabwe | 2 |
The group winner qualifies for the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Four of the nine group runners-up qualify for a playoff to determine Africa's representative in the intercontinental playoffs.
Notwithstanding the challenges ahead, Udeze hopes things would be different this time.
“We always find it difficult to beat Rwanda away,” Udeze said on Brila FM.
“I remember during my time in the Super Eagles we drew away to them but I hope things will be different this time around because if we want to be at next year’s World Cup, we need to win the rest of our games and one of the must win games is away to Rwanda.”
The Amavubi are on seven points, four ahead of the fifth placed Super Eagles in the standings. New Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle must steer the Super Eagles to win their remaining six games, and one of the fixtures is away to Rwanda whom they have never beaten in their backyard.
Meanwhile, the Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA) on Sunday announced the appointment of Algeria’s Adel Amrouche as Amavubi’s new head coach replacing German coach Torsten Spittler.
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