They're finally awake! Super Victor for Super Eagles' easy triumph

The opening four rounds of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers were a genuine nightmare for Nigeria. Only three points won and four goals scored and the penultimate spot in Group C were far from the level expected from the Super Eagles and they seem to have finally woken up!

Today, Rwanda were "a piece of cake" for Eric Chelle's boys and their lethal net-buster Victor Osimhen, who hinted at Nigeria's win with a first-half brace. The rest of the match was simply Nigerians' "getting the job done," as they face Zimbabwe in only four days and will need all the energy they can get - 2-0.

The Super Eagles were often dominant during these qualifiers but somehow usually failed to crown it with goals which would secure them victories. This time, their greatest weapon, Osimhen, was at his top level. In the 11th minute he found the net with a first-touch volley following Ademola Lookman's free-kick cross, easing the opening of the match for his team.

In the dying minutes of the first half, seconds before the break, Galatasaray striker finished the visitors' counter with another goal, chipping the ball over Rwanda's custodian Fiacre Ntwari after Samuel Chukwueze's timely pass.

Rwanda, on the other hand - although undefeated against Nigeria in their last three clashes and sitting above them in the table - were very poor, noting only one attempt in the entire first half.

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Given that they had already secured the three points, Chelle used the second half to make sure his team kept the lead as well as rest some players for the upcoming challenges, as Nigeria will host Zimbabwe in only four days in another qualifying clash.

Thanks to their win and South Africa's victory over Lesotho, the Super Eagles "climbed up" to fourth place in Group C. The eventual triumph over the underdogs Zimbabwe could significantly increase their chances to return to the FIFA World Cup after missing the 2022 edition.

2026 WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS - AFRICA

Round 5

Wednesday

CAR - Madagascar 1-4 (1-2)

/Gambor 9 - Raveloson 17,21, Randrianantenaina 49, Rafanomezantsoa 89/

Eswatini - Cameroon

Liberia - Tunisia 0-1 (0-1)

/Mestouri 4/

Thursday

Mozambique - Uganda 3-1 (3-1)

/Pepo 3, 16, Ratifo 45+3 - Shaban 7/

Cape Verde - Mauritius 1-0 (0-0)

/Semedo 84/

Malawi - Namibia 0-1 (0-1)

/Tijueza 40/

Sierra Leone - Guinea B. 3-1 (1-0)

/Bundu 19, Kamara Mu. 61, Turay 90+6 - Monteiro 68/

Zimbabwe - Benin 2-2 (1-2)

/Munetsi 44, Musona 59 - Mounie 12, Dodo 35/

Gabon - Seychelles 3-0 (2-0)

/Allevinah 3, Bouanga 30, 63/

Gambia - Kenya 3-3 (0-0)

/Barrow 55, 84, Minteh 61 - Olunga 69 pen, Bajaber 75, Wilson 90+6/

Libya - Angola 1-1 (0-0)

/Ellafi 75 - Fredy 90+3/

Friday

Comoros - Mali 0-3 (0-1)

/Nene 20, Doumbia 55, 63/

Botswana - Algeria 1-3 (0-1)

/Kopelang 70 - Gouiri 44, Amoura 52, 74/

Equatorial Guinea - Sao Tome 2-0 (2-0)

/Nsue 14, Salvador 17/

Burkina Faso - Djibouti 4-1 (2-0)

/Tiendrebeogo 12, Traore B. 33, Zougrana 47, Traore L. 67 - Akinbinu 88 pen/

DR Congo - South Sudan 1-0 (1-0)

/Bongonda 45+3/

Rwanda - Nigeria 0-2 (0-2)

/Osimhen 11, 45+3/

S.Africa - Lesotho 2-0 (0-0)

/Mofokeng 60, Adams 64/

22:00: (13.0) Burundi (4.50) Ivory Coast (1.33)

22:00: (1.02) Ghana (16.0) Chad (50.0)

Saturday

00:00: (12.0) Ethiopia (4.70) Egypt (1.33)

00:00: (1.05) Guinea (13.0) Somalia (40.0)

00:30: (22.0) Niger (10.5) Morocco (1.10)

***odds are subject to change***