With their ticket to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco already secured, the Super Eagles of Nigeria are gearing up for a high-stakes encounter against Rwanda’s national football team, Amavubi on Monday.
Head Coach Augustine Eguavoen insists that the team is fully focused on maintaining their winning momentum as they prepare for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers resuming in four months.
Despite being without key players, including goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, defender Olaoluwa Aina, and forward Ademola Lookman, Coach Eguavoen remains confident in the squad’s depth.
Stanley Nwabali was excused to mourn the loss of his father. Olaoluwa Aina returned to Nottingham Forest for club commitments while rapid-raider Ademola Lookman, with two goals in the qualifiers like teammate Victor Osimhen, suffered a knock in the front end of this window’s double-header, against Benin Republic’s Cheetahs in Abidjan on Thursday, and left camp on Saturday. Their absences pave the way for others to step up, including Maduka Okoye, who returns to the starting lineup as the goalkeeper.
The team will feature some positional shifts to cover for the missing players. Bright Osayi-Samuel is expected to start at right wing-back, while Bruno Onyemaechi will slot in at left wing-back. Captain William Ekong and Calvin Bassey will anchor the defense as center-backs.
In the midfield, Wilfred Ndidi, Alex Iwobi, Frank Onyeka, Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, and Raphael Onyedika are available options to control the game.
Upfront, Victor Osimhen leads the attack with support from Moses Simon, Samuel Chukwueze, Sadiq Umar, Kelechi Iheanacho, and Victor Boniface. Osimhen, who scored the decisive goal against Benin Republic, is eyeing more goals to surpass Olusegun Odegbami’s tally in Nigeria’s all-time scoring chart.
The Super Eagles are determined to leave no room for complacency, showcasing their strength and depth as they continue their journey toward continental and global glory.
Melissa Enoch
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