2026 FIFA World Cup Race: Nigeria pick three points off Rwanda, set for Bafana showdown

Nigeria rekindled their interest in a ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals after Tolu Arokodare’s 51st minute goal creamed three points off Rwanda at Uyo’s Godswill Akpabio Stadium on Saturday, and took the Super Eagles’ haul to 10 in the campaign.

They are still in third place and six points off leaders South Africa, whom they confront in Bloemfontein on Tuesday, but the stark possibility of the Bafana Bafana losing three points and three goals due to the use of an ineligible player in a previous game means the Eagles still have a chance.

Benin Republic’s Cheetahs, in second place following their 1-0 win over Zimbabwe in Abidjan on Friday, have a final-day tango with the Super Eagles on 14th October.

The Super Eagles’ win, achieved in a gritty contest with the Amavubi, and South Africa’s 3-0 rout of Lesotho in Bloemfontein on Friday, means Tuesday’s showdown between the Eagles and the Bafana in a freezing evening in South Africa’s judicial capital will be nothing short of a flaming war.

Intense rivalry between both nations on and off the football pitch aside, the encounter at the Toyota Stadium will answer a lot of questions about which of the two teams desires a 2026 FIFA World Cup spot more, the true abilities of the present generation that represents both nations at senior level, and the side that is more resilient and battle-fit in a contest for which second place is no place.

Eternal suspect Victor Osimhen, who got both goals when the Eagles overpowered the Amavubi 2-0 in Kigali six months ago, thought he had given Nigeria the lead in the 8th minute, when he arrived at the end of a left-footed slash by Ademola Lookman to toe-poke the ball past Fiacre Ntwari. But his effort was ruled offside.

The Galatasaray of Turkey forward was taken off the game injured midway into the first period.

In the 13th minute, Ntwali showed why he is one of the most respected goalkeepers in East Africa when he dived full strength to divert a deceptive cross by Lookman, and a minute later, playing captain Wilfred Ndidi saw his belter from the edge of the box fly past the opposition goalpost. Ntwali, who had a very busy evening, denied good efforts by Simon Moses and Alex Iwobi later in the half.

Six minutes into the second half, Nigeria got the dividend that their endeavour merited, when Arokodare, now with Wolverhampton Wanderers in England, slammed the ball against the sticks and into the net from a goalmouth scramble.

The former KRC Genk forward had brilliantly held the ball for Moses to dart past and send it into the box. His initial effort was blocked, but he followed up and reaped just reward in netting his second international goal.

Five minutes later, Cyriel Dessers failed to strike at once from a good Iwobi pass, and Arokodare and Ndidi saw their shots saved by Ntwali, before the Amavubi number one produced a masterclass to divert Simon Moses’ angled free-kick with 14 minutes left.

The Super Eagles will now travel to Bloemfontein on Sunday, for their Matchday 8 confrontation with the Bafana Bafana.