Former Rwanda star Francis Sibomana is confident the Amavubi can claim another victory over Nigeria when the two sides meet in Kigali on March 21 for a crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier, Footynaija.com reports.
The Super Eagles, led by head coach Eric Chelle, will arrive at Amahoro Stadium desperate for three points to keep their faltering qualification hopes alive. Nigeria sit fifth in Group C with just three points from four matches, while Rwanda, South Africa, and Benin share the top spot with seven points each.
For Nigeria, history is not on their side. The Super Eagles have never beaten Rwanda away from home, with all three previous meetings in Kigali ending in draws. Moreover, Rwanda stunned them with a 2-1 victory in their most recent encounter on Nigerian soil.
That match, a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Uyo, saw Samuel Chukwueze put Nigeria ahead before Torsten Spittler’s side fought back to win through goals from Ange Mutsinzi and Innocent Nshuti.
However, the defeat was a dead rubber for Nigeria, who had already qualified for AFCON with two games to spare, while Rwanda still failed to make the tournament despite the victory.
23 for Rwanda & Zimbabwe WCQ #soarsupereagles pic.twitter.com/uVa61KUFC4
— Super Eagles (@NGSuperEagles) March 11, 2025
This time, however, the stakes are much higher.
Rwanda are chasing a first-ever World Cup qualification and know that another win over Nigeria would put them in a strong position in Group C.
Sibomana insists the Amavubi are not just out to prove that their win in Uyo was no fluke, but to take another step towards making history.
“Many of your people (Nigerians) still believe the win in Nigeria was a fluke, but trust me, we will aim to repeat that when we face them again next week in Kigali,” Sibomana told Flashscore.
“Also, they have announced a star-studded squad, but that doesn’t scare us, as we have our own superstars who will let their performance on the field do the talking.
“This game will be a huge one for us, and I can already imagine how Amahoro Stadium will be packed with fans cheering Amavubi to victory.
“We’ve never qualified for the FIFA World Cup in our history, and a positive result here will bring us closer to that dream. Nigeria won’t be easy, but we will fight for it from start to finish.”
Only 7 days until camp opens⌛️ pic.twitter.com/Kw6cCQZneU
— Super Eagles (@NGSuperEagles) March 9, 2025
Sibomana also outlined Rwanda’s tactical approach, highlighting their defensive organisation as key to neutralising Nigeria’s attacking threats.
“Our biggest strength in the qualifiers so far has been our defensive setup. Against Nigeria, we must maintain our defensive organisation and prevent them from having any opportunity at goal, as that could put us in trouble,” he said.
“If they come to attack, I’m fine with that because we have fast, talented players who can capitalise on a team that is pushing forward.
“We are playing at home, and we know what it takes. We are experienced at this stage and will do everything possible to win this game.
“Rwanda haven’t lost to them in our last encounters, which proves that this Nigerian side is very beatable, just like we showed the last time we faced them on their home soil.”
Nigeria, who last qualified for the World Cup in 2018, missed the 2022 edition after falling at the final hurdle against arch-rivals Ghana. The Super Eagles will now need a win in Kigali to avoid another major setback in their bid to reach the 2026 tournament.
