Rwanda’s hopes of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have taken a different turn following a narrow 1-0 defeat to Nigeria in Uyo.
The match, held at the Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, marked Match Day 7 of the Group C qualifiers. Amavubi went into the fixture with 8 points, but the loss has now seen them drop to fourth place in the group standings.
The only goal of the match came from Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Tolu Arokodare, who found the net in the 51st minute of the second half after a tightly contested first period ended goalless. This result marked Rwanda’s second loss to the Super Eagles in the qualifiers, having previously fallen 2-0 in the reverse fixture in Kigali.
With just three matches remaining in the group stage, Rwanda’s hopes of securing a historic World Cup qualification now hang in the balance. The team currently trails third-place Nigeria by two points (10 points), second-place Benin by four points (11 points), and group leaders South Africa by eight points (16 points).
As the qualification race intensifies, Amavubi must deliver strong performances in their remaining fixtures to keep their dream of a maiden World Cup appearance alive.
