Nigeria’s Super Eagles ended their campaign in the 2025 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers with a shock 2-1 defeat at home to Rwanda.
The Super Eagles, having already qualified for the tournament in Morocco, went ahead through Samuel Chukwueze in the 59th minute.
The AC Milan attacker who replaced the misfiring Kelechi Iheanacho gave Nigeria the lead after a brilliant solo run into the visitor’s box before firing the ball into the net.
The Amavubi of Rwanda, however, shocked everyone and even themselves as they came from one goal down to defeat the Super Eagles 2-1 at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
The visitors got their equaliser in the 72nd minute with Ange Mutsinz’s header from a freekick beating Maduka Okoye who was keeping goal for Nigeria for the first time in almost three years.
Rwanda who knew they needed a win to give them any hope of qualifying scored again through Nshuti Innocent, who fired a shot into the Eagles net to give them the lead which they maintained till the game ended for a shock victory.
Despite the win, the Rwandans did not make it to the AFCON 2025 competition as they fell short to Benin Republic who picked the group’s second ticket.
The Super Eagles lost to the Rwandans for the first-ever after six attempts.
