The Federal Government has mobilised a club of supporters and 500 Nigerians in Rwanda, for the forthcoming football match between the nation.
The Super Eagles have promised to shed blood on the Amahoro Stadium field if necessary to achieve the intended outcome since they are aware that a loss today in Kigali will further hurt their prospects of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.
Nigeria will visit Rwanda in their fifth game in the 2026 World Cup African qualification campaign with a win possible of relaunching them into contention for the only Group C ticket.
With just three points, the Super Eagles are in fifth place in a group that is dominated by South Africa, Rwanda, and the Benin Republic, all of which have seven points from four games.
To have a chance of overtaking the top teams in the competition for a Group C ticket, the Super Eagles need to start winning today.
The Federal Government has already begun organising the Nigerian community in Rwanda with 500 match tickets to increase support for the Super Eagles, so everyone is working together to see them through to the end.
To rally support for the Eagles, a Federal Government team has already visited with the Nigerian community in Rwanda.
The group has purchased tickets for around 500 Nigerians in that nation to join those travelling from Lagos and Abuja to show their overwhelming support for the Super Eagles, a National Sports Commission (NSC) source told The Intercept.
About 1,500 members of another Nigerian delegation are anticipated to arrive in Kigali with drums, horns, and other musical instruments to support the players, who have already promised to prove they can win Group C, as experts had predicted when the campaign’s draw was made in 2023.
Members of the Unified Supporters Club and other interested parties will travel to Kigali this morning with the Nigerian delegation.
Vincent Okumagba, the chairman of the Supporters Club, has commended the work of NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko and Director General Bukola Olopade in making the arrangement.
“We have no other option than to get the three points here in Kigali,” Super Eagles’ Skipper, William Troost-Ekong, said after their morning training yesterday. “We are ready for whatever style of football our coach wants us to play,” he added.
During his unveiling event in January of this year, coach Eric Chelle stated that he is prepared for and mindful of the expectations of Nigerians.
He has pledged to get the Super Eagles back to playing football in an aggressive manner.
He said: “They need to play high-pressure football. When I was growing up, the Super Eagles were my favourite team. I want to be the best. We need to work harder and play high-pressure football. Time is not the best friend of every coach, but if you accept the risk you need to take responsibility.”
Midfielder Papa Daniel Mustapha, the team’s newest addition, is hoping for good fortune and the opportunity to prove himself in today’s pivotal match against the Amavubi.
The 23-year-old Niger Tornadoes player exuded humility and confidence when he was unexpectedly added to Chelle’s first-ever Super Eagles roster.
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Speaking from the team’s camp at the Radisson Blu in Kigali, the young midfield player said he is eager to take advantage of any chance to show off his abilities on a global scale.
“To me, I know we have everything—quality players. I just pray for luck,” Papa Daniel said in a video shared by the Super Eagles on X, formerly Twitter.
“If I get a chance, I’ll be happy, and I’ll show Nigeria and the world who I am and what I can do.”
Papa Daniel, who has already made an impression with the Super Eagles B squad, said that he is inspired by the best football players.
Ademola Lookman, the African Footballer of the Year, is not being kind to Rwanda. The Amavubi are highly regarded by the Atalanta striker, who claims that for the Super Eagles to achieve anything significant in Kigali, they must perform at their peak.
He said: “Now, the team is looking forward to Friday’s game, the first game. We’re looking to go out there and to work hard and to impose ourselves on the game and have a good time.
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“We know Rwanda is a good team, we know about their quality, but at the end of the day, we need to be focusing on ourselves and try to bring the game to them, to fight together for the win.”
He, however, said that the Super Eagles have the quality to beat any opposition in Group C.
“Everybody knows the level of the players that we have here. It’s an incredible group of players, and most importantly, they’re good people. Everyone has the same objective – to want to win, and that’s very important.
“The group is together, very tight-knit, so that’s the winning formula. Everybody’s positive, we’ve had two good training sessions. So we’re looking forward to putting out a great performance,” he said.
Four days after today’s match in Kigali, the Super Eagles will play Zimbabwe at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.
The Super Eagles, who have had a rough start to the World Cup qualifying campaign, need to win both of these games.
