Nigeria's Super Eagles ended their 2025 Nations Cup qualifiers on a disappointing note as they lost to Rwanda 2-1 at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium on Monday.
In front of about 10,000 spectators, the Eagles puffed but could not bring down the Rwandan house.
The defeat puts into perspective the calculations for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers which will resume in March 2025 with Rwanda and Benin in the same group and the Eagles needing to win the remaining six matches to have a chance of not missing out on successive World Cups. .
It also raised questions about the composition of the Eagles' squad, Augustine Eguavoen's position as the team's interim coach and likely the need to get a more astute coach before World Cup qualifying resumes.
Here are the player ratings:
Maduka Okoye (90 minutes): 5/10: Not a good return for Okoye as he allowed two goals in four minutes of the second half. While he cannot be blamed for the first, which was a close-range header from inside the six-yard box, the Udinese goalkeeper will believe he could have done better in the second.
Bright Osayi-Samuel (90 minutes): 5/10: The Fenerbahce player did his best to defend and join the attack, but playing behind Iheanacho was not a good experience as the Sevilla player often neglected his duties defensive.
William Troost-Ekong (90 minutes): 5/10: In his 73rd game, Ekong led the Eagles to another home loss. The defender, who plays for Al-Kholood Club in Saudi Arabia, was unable to get the best out of his teammate, Gabriel Osho.
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Gabriel Osho (90 minutes): 4/10: Osho's first two international matches for Nigeria have not been memorable occasions. The Auxerre defender could not take advantage of his height to defend the first goal and found himself wanting, along with the other defenders, to get the second. His place in the team seems shaky.
Bruno Onyemaechi (90 minutes): 6/10: Another above-average performance from the Boavista defender. He joined the attack as always, but he must do better with his deliveries to the area.
Alhassan Yusuf (45 minutes): 5.5/10: Just one half and he escaped a horrendous tackle that could have ended his season, even his career. His energy and selfless running were evident in the first half, and he should spend more time with the Eagles in the future.
Raphael Onyedika (90 minutes): 5/10: Onyedika was chosen to control the pace of the match, but he did not stand out. Maybe it was the new setup that limited him, but he hopes to do better when elected in the future.
Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (77 minutes): 5/10: The Lazio man was supposed to be the playmaker in the revamped setup, but the Rwandans' physicality overwhelmed him.
Kelechi Iheanacho (45 minutes): 4/10: Once again, Iheanacho was substituted at the start of the second half, highlighting the Sevilla player's consistently disappointing performances for the national team.
Moses Simon (90 minutes): 6.5/10 – Simon was all over the game as he tried to pull the levers of the Eagles attack. He's getting better with age and always looks for it when called upon, whether starting or coming off the bench.
Victor Boniface (89 minutes): 4/10: Boniface's problems with the Super Eagles remain unexplained. Another lackluster performance could result in reduced playing time and fewer call-ups in the future. Boniface certainly presents a challenge that the Super Eagles' next permanent coach will need to address.
Substitutes
Frank Onyeka (45 minutes): 4/10: Led a second-half breakaway that should have led to the second goal, but his passing let him down.
Samuel Chukwueze (45 minutes): 6/10: Finally, the real Chukwueze showed up and scored a wonderful goal. His celebration, or lack thereof, showed his frustration with his performances with the Super Eagles. The AC Milan winger needs to be more consistent.
Victor Osimhen (23 minutes): 5/10: Osimhen brought his urgency and channeling to the game, but the Rwandans were already in their defensive layer, making it difficult for the Galatasaray man to create any scoring opportunities.
Umar Sadiq (5 minutes): NA: There is not enough time to be qualified.
Coach Augustine Eguavoen – 5/10: Eguavoen's personnel changes did not achieve the desired results, raising major questions about his ability to lead the team. With a team packed with talent, the difficulty in scoring against opponents like Benin and Rwanda is a cause for concern.