Super Eagles caretaker coach Austin Eguavoen is confident Nigeria will edge Rwanda in their Group D 2025 Africa Cup of Nations clash at the Amahoro Stadium saying “We have the personnel to handle whatever they throw at us.”
The Eagles, currently atop the group, are riding high after a dominant 3-0 victory over Benin in their opening match. Ademola Lookman’s brace and Victor Osimhen’s stunning volley perfectly showcase Nigeria’s attacking prowess.
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Rwanda, known as the Amavubi, have also been in impressive form, losing just once in five games this year. Their recent 1-1 draw against Libya in a Group D AFCON qualifier demonstrates their competitive spirit.
German tactician Torsten Spittler leads the Amavubi, aiming to secure their first win over Nigeria in five encounters. Rwanda boasts talented players plying their trade at clubs like Kaizer Chiefs, Standard Liège, and Stade Tunisien.
Spittler is renowned for his tactical flexibility, often changing formations during games to catch opponents off guard. However, Eguavoen remains unfazed, asserting that the Eagles possess the quality to match and surpass any system Rwanda employs.
“We have quality players capable of playing various styles of football,” Eguavoen stated during the pre-match press conference. “Different formations, different systems—we have the personnel to handle whatever they throw at us.”
Despite being favored to win by pundits and bookmakers, Eguavoen insists that his team will not underestimate Rwanda.
“Our country has high expectations, and they expect us to win regardless of the opponent,” he explained. “We approach every match with respect. Rwanda respects us, and we respect them. You can’t underestimate anyone in today’s football. If you take them lightly, you might be surprised. We’ll be prepared.”
