AFCON qualifier: Unlucky Eagles held by Wasps in Kigali

The Super Eagles played a goalless draw with Rwanda in their second Group D game of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification at the Amahoro National Stadium, Kigali, on Tuesday.

Interim coach Austin Eguavoen made just one change to the team that defeated Benin Republic 3-0 in Uyo on Saturday, with Lazio midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bshiru starting in place of Alex Iwobi. The coach surprisingly kept faith with Victor Boniface by starting Victor Osimhen from the bench.

After a cautious few minutes of play in Kigali, the game started to open up, and Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman thought he had opened the scoring only for his goal to be disallowed by the referee, who hinged his decision on an infringement.

With little action in the first half, Eguavoen introduced Osimhen and Moses Simon at the start of the second half, which underscored his intent to win the game.

Reluctant to relinquish their two games without defeat, the Wasps pushed harder in the second half and were almost rewarded for their effort in the 50th minute, but Troost-Ekong made a timely intervention to prevent Innocent Nshuti from pulling the trigger.

The Eagles responded with an instant attack, with the two substitutes combining well, but Simon’s intended pass for Osimhen was deflected for a corner kick.

Nigeria came close to scoring in the 66th minute after a fine cross by Ola Aina was fumbled by Rwanda goalkeeper Fiacre Ntwari, as the ball fell kindly for Lookman, who failed to react quickly, allowing the Wasps to clear their line.

Torsten Spittler’s men had a decent chance just two minutes after Jojea Kwizera dribbled past Bruno Onyemaechi and found in-form Nshuti, but the striker dragged his shot well wide.

In response to the Rwandan counterattacks, Eguavoen, in the 70th minute, introduced Frank Onyeka and Raphael Onyedika.

Lookman almost found the back of the net in the 71st minute after volleying a long throw from Aina, but goalkeeper Ntwari made a superb save to deny the Atalanta forward his third goal of the qualifiers.

Two minutes later, the goalkeeper made another brave save, as he easily went down to gather a shot from Osimhen.

Despite numerous chances created, the Eagles were unable to find the back of the net and were almost punished in the 86th minute as substitute Arthur Gitego fired a low shot that rattled Stanley Nwabali, but had Aina to thank as the Nottingham Forest defender quickly played the ball out of the danger zone.

Nigeria could have nipped the win in the last minute of regulation time, but Onyemaechi missed another glorious chance. With the goalkeeper out of his line, the defender’s goal-bound shot was blocked by a sea of defenders who threw themselves in front of the ball.

Four minutes into the five minutes of additional time, Rwanda’s goalkeeper made another superb save from an Osimhen header, with the Galatasaray player thinking he had hit the back of the net.

The draw means the Eagles preserved their unbeaten record in their sixth encounter with the Wasps, who are yet to get the better of the three-time Africa champions.

Nigeria currently sit top of their group with four points from two games.