Osimhen’s Brace Against Rwanda Keeps Nigeria’s World Cup Hopes Alive

Nigeria claimed a crucial 2-0 win over Rwanda in their 2026 World Cup qualifier match at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali. Victor Osimhen scored a brace, taking Nigeria to six points, four behind South Africa in Group C.

The match was a must-win for Nigeria, who had only managed three points from three draws and a loss in their previous four matches. Rwanda, on the other hand, were looking to build on their recent performances, having already defeated Nigeria once this season.

Nigeria’s coach, Eric Chelle, had expressed confidence in his team’s ability to turn things around, stating that they had a great squad and were focusing on their preparation ³. The team’s lineup included notable players such as Osimhen, Moses Simon, and William Troost-Ekong.

Rwanda’s lineup featured players like Innocent Nshuti, who had scored the match-winning goal against Nigeria in their previous encounter. However, despite their efforts, Rwanda were unable to contain Osimhen, who scored two crucial goals to secure Nigeria’s win.

The win marks a significant turnaround for Nigeria, who are now back in contention for a spot in the 2026 World Cup. The team will look to build on this momentum in their upcoming matches, while Rwanda will aim to regroup and recover from this setback.

In other matches, Egypt defeated Ethiopia 2-0, with Mohamed Salah scoring a goal, while Morocco needed a late winner to defeat Niger 2-1. South Africa also claimed a 2-0 win over Lesotho, taking them to the top of Group C.