The Super Eagles ended their campaign in the 2025 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers with a shock 2-1 defeat at home to Rwanda on Monday.
Nigeria, having already qualified for the tournament in Morocco, went ahead through Samuel Chukwueze who scored a lovely goal in the 59th minute.
The AC Milan attacker who replaced the misfiring Kelechi Iheanacho gave Nigeria the lead after a brilliant solo run into the visitor’s box before firing the ball into the net.
Rwanda, however, shocked everyone and even themselves as they came from one goal down to defeat the Super Eagles 2-1 at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
The visitors got their equaliser in the 72nd minute with Ange Mutsinz’s header from a freekick beating Maduka Okoye who was keeping goal for Nigeria for the first time in almost three years.
Rwanda who knew they needed a win to give them any hope of qualifying for the 2025 AFCON scored again through Nshuti Innocent who fired a shot into the Eagles net to give them the lead which they maintained till the game ended for a shock victory.
With interim head coach, Augustine Eguavoen suffering his first defeat in the 2025 AFCON qualification series, Complete Sports, hereby takes a look at how the Super Eagles players rated against Rwanda…
Maduka Okoye 4/10: Udinese goalkeeper, Maduka Okoye’s first appearance for the Super Eagles in almost three years ended in the same manner as his last game for Nigeria.
Before Monday, Okoye last kept goal for Nigeria on January 23, 2022 when the Super Eagles lost 1-0 to Tunisia in a 2021 AFCON second round clash in Cameroon.
He might not have been directly culpable for the two goals Nigeria conceded against Rwanda but then, Okoye did not particularly cover himself in glory.
Bright Osayi-Samuel 5/10: Bright Osayi-Samuel had a decent game and was good with his positioning, helping both in attack and in defence but tdue to the fact that the team was bad in general, his rating has been negatively affected.
Gabriel Osho 4/10: Gabriel Osho made his second start for the Super Eagles and played well in the first half but he needs to really start justifying his invitation to the Super Eagles.
However, his positioning led to the Super Eagles conceding two goals and overall, the Auxerre central defender cannot be rated well from the two games he has played for Nigeria.
William Troost-Ekong 5/10: William Troost Ekong also known as captain fantastic wasn’t that fantastic against Rwanda as he was instrumental to the team conceding two goals in the space of two minutes to lose their one-goal advantage in the second half.
The defender was caught napping for both goals while his partnership with Osho in the heart of the Super Eagles defence also looked shaky.
Bruno Onyemaechi 5/10: Bruno Onyemaechi was very much far away from being a top player against the Amavubi unlike the way he was the best Nigerian star when they drew 1-1 with Benin Republic last Thursday.
His connection with Moses Simon on the left side of the pitch was not felt at all while his crosses also left a bitter taste in the mouth as he failed to create any big chance.
Raphael Onyedika 6/10: Club Brugge of Belgium midfielder, Raphael Onyedika put in the energy in the engine room of the Nigerian national team with his physical presence and strength.
Onyedika who actually replaced Wilfred Ndidi in midfield also provided a good link with the forwards but he did not do much in the attack like he normally does for his club in recent times.
Al-Hassan Yusuf 4/10: Al-Hassan Yusuf who partnered Onyedika in midfield has never been convincing in a Super Eagles’ shirt and that continued in the game against Rwanda.
Yusuf who moved to the MLS during the summer transfer window did not do much in the first half, leading to his substitution at halftime.
Fisayo Dele-Bashiru 5/10: It was an unusually subdued performance from Lazio midfielder, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru whom Nigerian football fans have always expected much from due to the way he introduced himself to them.
He was supposed to be the main outlet from midfield, but he failed to do much for the Super Eagles.
Victor Boniface 4/10: When in heaven’s name will Victor Boniface start shining in the colours of the Super Eagles? That seems to be a million dollar question only Boniface himself can answer.
It is disturbing that the forward is always lion whenever he plays for Bayer Leverkusen but then becomes timid for the Super Eagles which means he must improve for Nigeria, something he did not show any sign of against Rwanda as he was disappointing once again.
Moses Simon 6/10: Moses Simon was at the top of his game and was a threat to the Rwanda defenders, with his slick moves on the flank but he obviously couldn’t do it all alone as most of his teammates failed to come to the party.
Kelechi Iheanacho 4/10: Kelechi Iheanacho had a disappointing game as he failed to justify the reason interim manager, Augustine Eguavoen included him in the starting line-up.
He started for the Super Eagles but he failed to prove himself. He failed to create enough chances, and at times, he seemed to have even slowed down the attack.
SUBSTITUTES
Frank Onyeka 6/10: Frank Onyeka came in as a substitute and was involved in the Super Eagles opening goal, but Nigeria still went on to concede two goals.
Samuel Chukwueze 7/10: The AC Milan attacker who replaced the misfiring Kelechi Iheanacho made an immediate impact as he gave Nigeria the lead after a brilliant solo run into the visitor’s box before firing the ball into the net.
Victor Osimhen 5/10: Victor Osimhen came in to replace Dele-Bashiru after the Super Eagles conceded two goals in the space of two minutes but had limited time to help Nigeria.
Umar Sadiq: The Real Sociedad striker replaced Boniface in the 89th minute when the game had already been won and lost, therefore, he cannot be rated.
