Sports

AFCON 2025: Nigeria Eyes Victory Over Rwanda as Lookman Leaves Camp

Nigeria’s Super Eagles are set to face Rwanda’s Amavubi on Monday in their final Group D match of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Although the three-time African champions have already booked their place in Morocco 2025 and secured the top position in the group, Head Coach Augustine Eguavoen has reassured fans that the team will still strive for a win, despite the absence of goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, defender Olaoluwa Aina, and forward Ademola Lookman.

According to PUNCH Online, Eguavoen is determined to keep the team’s unbeaten streak intact and is expected to field a strong lineup when Nigeria hosts Rwanda at Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo at 5 pm.

In a press statement released on Sunday, titled “Morocco 2025: Despite Ticket in Pocket, Super Eagles Go for Victory Against Amavubi,” published on the Nigeria Football Federation’s website, Eguavoen highlighted the significance of sustaining the team’s momentum.

“We are determined to sustain our recent form and spirit as we prepare for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers resuming in four months,” he said.

The match takes place in the absence of important players.

The starting goalkeeper, Nwabali, has departed from the camp due to the passing of his father; defender Olaoluwa Aina has gone back to Nottingham Forest for club responsibilities; and forward Ademola Lookman, who is recovering from an injury sustained during Thursday’s match against Benin Republic, has also left the camp.

Nonetheless, Eguavoen maintains trust in the depth of his team.

“The absence of Nwabali, Aina, and Lookman will not stop our momentum. This team is built to adapt, and we have players ready to step in and deliver,” he said.

Sports

AFCON Qualifiers: As Nigeria, Morocco, and Gabon Prepare

The battle for a spot in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) intensifies, with critical games scheduled across various groups.

National teams are competing for prized positions in the 2025 tournament, while supporters eagerly anticipate an exciting series of matches.

At this stage, the nations that have secured qualification include Algeria, Angola, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ivory Coast (the defending champions), Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, among others.

In Group B, the Central African Republic is set to face Gabon at 20:00 on Monday, with both teams expected to fiercely contest for dominance in what promises to be a thrilling encounter.

Morocco will also play against Lesotho in a match where the North African powerhouses are widely regarded as the clear favourites.

Group D is expected to deliver thrilling action, as Libya faces Benin at 17:00.

At the same time on the same day, Nigeria will compete against Rwanda, while Benin and Rwanda battle for the final qualification spot.

In Group F, the already eliminated Ghana will take on Niger at 17:00. At the same time, Sudan will play host to Angola in a key match as both teams battle for vital points.

In Group L, Malawi will meet Burkina Faso at 14:00 in an early encounter.

Football

Onyemaechi rated most consistent Eagle in 2025 AFCON qualifying series

Bruno Onyemaechi has been rated as the most consistent Super Eagles player in the 2025 AFCON qualifying series

Boavista defender, Bruno Onyemaechi has been rated as the most consistent player so far for the Super Eagles in their 2025 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying series that will end on Monday.

Sports media, All Things Super Eagles gave Onyemaechi a very high rating in a post it shared on its official X account on Saturday afternoon while reviewing the Eagles’ 2025 AFCON campaign.

“This man, Bruno Onyemaechi doesn’t get enough praise from Nigerians. For me, he’s been our best and most consistent player so far in this AFCON qualifying series,” All Things Super Eagles wrote.

Onyemaechi, meanwhile, would get the highest rating in Nigeria’s defensive line when they drew 1-1 with Benin Republic on Thursday night because of his impact in the left wing for the Eagles.

He kept possession on a certain number of occasions and he created a chance for Nigeria in the first half with a lovely cross in to box of Benin Republic in the first half but Victor Osimhen fumbled.

Osimhen who had the goalkeeper to beat put his header wide in the 40th minute. Such chances are what he regularly puts away at Galatasaray but Onyemaechi was excellent and rock solid in the back line.

Football

Chance to win in Nigeria is very low, admits Rwanda coach, Spittler

Rwanda manager, Frank Spittler has admitted the chance to win in Nigeria is very low

Rwanda coach, Frank Spittler has admitted the chance to win in Nigeria is very low

Rwanda coach, Frank Spittler has admitted that the chance to win in Nigeria is very low as his side faces the Super Eagles in their final 2025 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier.

Spittler said this at the post-match press conference after Rwanda suffered a shock 1-0 loss to the Mediterranean Knights of Libya in an AFCON qualifier at the Amahoro Stadium, Kigali on Thursday.

Rwanda wasted several scoring opportunities to break the deadlock before Fahd Saad Mohamed came off the substitutes bench to score the game-winning goal in the 84th minute, a truly shocking result.

The defeat leaves Rwanda’s hopes of qualifying for the AFCON for the first time since 2004 almost over as the Wasps are occupying the third position in Group D with five points after five matches.

Rwanda must now defeat Nigeria at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State while relying on Libya to beat Benin Republic in Tripoli to keep their 2025 AFCON hopes alive.

Spittler has admitted that the Wasps are condemned to beat the Super Eagles on Monday but the German football tactician urged his players to give a performance that will be talked about for ages.

“As long as there is a chance to qualify, we will do everything for it, so for sure, we have to win in Nigeria and that is what we are trying to do,” Spittler told reporters at the post-match presser.

“The chance to win in Nigeria is not very high, but there’s always a chance, and that’s what I tell my players, it’s a big match to play against some of the best players in the world.

“This is what I will tell my players. When you are a grandfather you will talk about this match and it doesn’t really matter then if you are qualifying for Afcon or not, but to try your best, and to show good football.

“We showed it in the last match against Nigeria. We can have a good match against them.

“It’s always the question of are you scoring or are you not scoring. There are bad days but maybe we have a very nice day in Nigeria.”

Football

Eguavoen urged to return to Technical Director role

Augustine Eguavoen has been urged to return to his role as the NFF Technical Director

Super Eagles interim head coach, Augustine Eguavoen has been urged to return to his role as Technical Director with the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) as soon as possible.

Eguavoen was given this advice by the United Kingdom-based Nigerian sports journalist, Osasu Obayiuwana who believes the former has done quite well with the Super Eagles so far.

The Super Eagles will play their final 2025 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against the Amavubi of Rwanda at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium on Monday, November 18, 2024.

The team returned to Nigeria about 24 hours after snatching a 1-1 draw against the coach Gernot Rohr-led Benin Republic at the Félix Houphouët-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan, Ivory Coast on Thursday.

Already qualified for the AFCON with a solid 11 points from five matches, including three wins and two draws, Obayiuwana has urged Eguavoen to return to his role as the NFF Technical Director.

“If I were @coacheguavoen, I would say this to @thenff, after the @NGSuperEagles final #AFCON2025 qualifier, against #Rwanda: “I stepped into the breach, to get the team to the AFCON finals.

“Now I have done that, I am going back to my Technical Director’s role, so you can get a substantive coach before the next round of WC qualifiers in March.

“I’m glad to have helped the country in its hour of need. Do I need to spell out why this is the best thing for him to do?,” Obayiuwana concluded.

Eguaveon has, meanwhile, only lost four of the 25 matches he has taken charge of the Super Eagles. His records are: 25 Matches, 16 Wins, 5 Draws and 4 losses.

Football

Ola Aina back in England on Forest request

Ola Aina is back in England on the request of Nottingham Forest

Ola Aina will not play any part in the Super Eagles’ final 2025 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Rwanda on Monday, November 18 as the defender is back in England.

The Super Eagles’ media officer, Promise Efoghe provided this information in a statement he posted on the team’s official WhatsApp platform on Saturday evening while giving an update.

“Ola Aina has returned to England on the request of his club, Nottingham Forest. The Premier League side pleaded with Coach Austin Eguavoen to release the defender early,” Efoghe said.

“That is ahead of their big game against Arsenal in the English Premier League since Nigeria’s 2025 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) ticket has been secured,” the media officer concluded.

This brings to two the number of players that have been ruled out of the final 2025 AFCON qualifier against Rwanda at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

The first player that was ruled out is the Super Eagles’ first-choice goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabali whose father died on Friday morning, a sad news which he announced on his Instagram page.

The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) and the Super Eagles head coach, Augustine Eguavoen thereafter decided to excuse the grieving Nwabali from the squad to confront the Amavubi of Rwanda.

Aina, meanwhile, came off for Bright Osayi-Samuel in the 82nd minute of Nigeria’s 1-1 draw with Benin Republic at the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire on Thursday night.

Football

Lookman misses Super Eagles training due to knock

Ademola Lookman missed the Super Eagles training session on Saturday due to a knock

Ademola Lookman missed the Super Eagles training session on Saturday due to a knock with the team preparing for its final 2025 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Rwanda.

The Super Eagles’ media officer, Promise Efoghe revealed this in a statement he posted on the team’s official Whats App platform before their training commenced at 4.30 pm on Saturday.

“Ademola Lookman has been excused from today’s training session after suffering a knock in Thursday’s game against Benin Republic,” Efoghe wrote in an update on the Super Eagles’ camp.

It was, meanwhile, certain the Beninoise had done their job on Lookman who was ineffective almost throughout the game until he was replaced by Frank Onyeka in the added minutes of the second half.

The Atalanta attacker showed signs of frustration on the pitch as he did not get key passes that could set him up to get a goal or even put striker, Victor Osimhen in scoring opportunities.

The 27-year-old has two goals in the qualifiers. The Lega Serie A has, however, hailed the quartet of Lookman, Samuel Chukwueze, Maduka Okoye and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru over their qualification for the 2025 AFCON.

The Super Eagles secured qualification to the 35th AFCON slated to hold in Morocco even before kicking the ball on matchday 5 following Rwanda’s 1-0 loss to the Mediterranean Knights of Libya in Kigali.

Nigeria played out a 1-1 draw with Benin Republic at the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire on Thursday with Osimhen rescuing the Eagles from the jaws of another loss against the Cheetahs who beat them in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier in June.