Nigeria faced up against Rwanda in their final Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match on Monday evening, but unfortunately for the Super Eagles, they suffered a shocking 2-1 defeat to end their qualification campaign on a sour note.
The result was inconsequential to their progression as Nigeria had already confirmed their place at the top of the group, thanks to three wins and two draws from their first five fixtures, but it has still left Super Eagles fans with plenty to think about.
Nigeria initially took the lead when Samuel Chukwueze netted the opener just before the hour mark, but that was swiftly undone as Rwanda scored twice in three minutes – Ange Mutsinzi in the 72nd and Innocent Nshuti in the 75th – with the visitors holding on to their lead to secure the victory.
New Low
Despite the defeat, Nigeria dominated proceedings over the 90 minutes, controlling 57% of possession and registering 14 shots to Rwanda’s four. However, the widespread negative reaction from fans stems from long-standing frustration, as Nigeria have frequently fallen short of expectations in recent years despite their wealth of talent. Losing to a team ranked 126 in the FIFA World Rankings represents a new low for the Super Eagles, despite a much-changed team from the one that drew to Benin.
The game has once again intensified calls for the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) to finally appoint a permanent manager, bringing an end to a turbulent period marked by interim stints from Finidi George and Augustine Eguavoen. This instability has persisted since February’s heartbreaking AFCON final defeat to Ivory Coast, which was remarkably the last time Nigeria played under a permanent manager, Jose Peseiro.
There has specifically been calls for Nigeria to appoint a manager that will deploy an attacking style of play that can make the most of their wealth of attacking talent, including the likes of Ademola Lookman, Samuel Chukwueze, Moses Simon, Victor Osimhen and more.
Selection A Problem
A number of performances in the defeat to Rwanda has also reignited debates about team selection, particularly regarding Nigeria’s attacking line-up.
Victor Boniface has faced mounting criticism since making his debut for Nigeria in September 2023, with frustrations growing after each game as the striker continues to fall short of the high expectations placed on him. Despite being one of the best players in Europe for Bayer Leverkusen since joining ahead of the 2023/24 season, scoring 29 goals in 49 appearances in that time, Boniface has failed to reach those heights for Nigeria, remarkably still yet to score for the Super Eagles in 11 appearances.
On the other hand, there are growing calls for greater roles for Simon and Chukwueze, whose creativity and flair could help address the team’s struggles in front of goal in recent months, often dominating matches but struggling to convert and create chances. Both of these forwards possess the creativity and flair that could not only help the team improve their attacking dynamism but also serve as stark reminders of what the Super Eagles have historically been known for on the world stage, with the likes of Jay-Jay Okocha summarising how many want Nigeria to play.
Overall, the loss was another disappointing performance and result in a string of recent struggles, serving as a reminder of the issues plaguing the Super Eagles in past months. Fans will be eager for the NFF, and the anticipated incoming permanent manager, to address these concerns ahead of their next round of fixtures in March 2025.
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