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Nigeria produced an astute display in attack and in defence to secure a deserved 2-0 victory at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali on Friday night, Footynaija.com reports.
Beyond the scoreline, this was a performance that showed tactical maturity, individual brilliance, and renewed belief. Here are five key lessons from Nigeria’s much-needed win.
Eric Chelle can adapt and win ugly
For all the talent in Nigeria’s squad, the team has often struggled with tactical flexibility. Chelle, however, showed he is not afraid to adjust.
His 4-4-2 setup in the first half was all about high pressing and quick transitions, forcing Rwanda into costly mistakes. But when the game demanded control in the second half, he switched to a 4-3-3, ensuring Nigeria stayed compact and disciplined.
Chelle’s ability to read the game and adjust made the difference — a quality previous managers have often lacked.
Victor Osimhen is Nigeria’s ultimate game-changer
When Osimhen is in the squad, Nigeria always has a chance. His two goals against Rwanda were a reminder of his ruthless finishing and relentless work rate.
His pressing forced Rwanda into errors, and his ice-cool dink over the goalkeeper showed a striker in top form. More importantly, he ended Nigeria’s winless streak in Rwanda—a burden no other forward had managed to lift.
If Osimhen stays fit, Nigeria’s World Cup qualification dream is still alive.
Nigeria finally looked like a team with purpose
Before this match, the Super Eagles had been uninspiring, lacking urgency and direction. In Kigali, there was a clear shift in mentality.
Players fought for every ball, pressed aggressively, and defended with more discipline. This was a team playing with purpose, hunger, and belief — qualities that had been missing in previous games.
If this level of commitment continues, Nigeria will be a tough opponent for anyone in the qualifiers.
The Super Eagles can keep a clean sheet when it matters
One of Nigeria’s biggest problems in recent years has been leaking avoidable goals. The Super Eagles had not jept a clean sheet in any of their first four games during this World Cup qualifying campaign. But against Rwanda, the defence looked more organized and assured.
The partnership of Calvin Bassey and William Troost-Ekong handled Rwanda’s attacks well, while Bright Osayi-Samuel and Ola Aina provided good width without compromising the team’s shape.
A clean sheet away from home is a big confidence boost, showing that Nigeria can defend a lead when needed.
Winning in Rwanda could be a turning point
Nigeria had never won in Rwanda before this match—three previous trips ended in frustrating draws. Breaking that streak is more than just a statistical achievement; it’s a psychological boost.
Winning tough away games is crucial in World Cup qualifiers, and this result sends a strong message to the rest of Group C. Nigeria have struggled in the early stages, but this win suggests they are finally finding momentum.
However, one great performance is not enough. The challenge now is repeating this level of intensity and tactical discipline in every game.
If the Super Eagles can build on this result, their qualification hopes will look far brighter than they did just a few weeks ago.
