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Arokodare Strikes to Keep Nigeria’s World Cup Dream Alive

Nigeria breathed new life into their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign after substitute Tolu Arokodare scored the decisive goal in a gritty 1-0 victory over Rwanda on Saturday.

The Genk striker, introduced at half-time, needed just five minutes to make his mark—pouncing on a loose ball inside the box in the 51st minute to steer home the winner. His instinctive finish kept the Super Eagles within touching distance of Group C’s frontrunners.

The win lifts Nigeria to 10 points from six games, closing in on South Africa (16 points) and Benin (11), with a crucial game in hand. Rwanda, meanwhile, remain on 8 points and slip further off the pace.

A tough first half

Nigeria dominated possession and territory but found Rwanda’s compact defence difficult to unlock before the interval. The hosts’ discipline was underlined by a string of yellow cards—Ishimwe Nshuti, Fidel Ntwari and Fitina Omborenga all booked for heavy challenges—while Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali was also cautioned after a heated moment in the 25th minute.

Clear chances were scarce, with Cyriel Dessers and Ademola Lookman both kept at arm’s length by Rwanda’s well-drilled back line.

Chelle’s game-changing switch

Head coach Eric Chelle turned to Arokodare at the break, sacrificing midfielder Frank Onyeka for extra firepower. The move proved decisive almost immediately as the substitute brought a sharper edge to Nigeria’s attack and delivered the breakthrough.

Rwanda attempted to respond with substitutions of their own, introducing Jojea Kwizera and later Aimable Biramahire, but Nigeria’s defence stood firm.

Seeing it out

The Super Eagles managed the closing stages with composure. Fisayo Dele-Bashiru added fresh legs, while late introductions of Bright Osayi-Samuel and William Troost-Ekong in the 87th minute helped shore up the defence.

Nigeria restricted Rwanda to speculative efforts and set-pieces, ultimately securing their first clean sheet since June.

The road ahead

With two fixtures left and a game in hand over their closest rivals, Nigeria’s qualification hopes remain alive. The battle for Group C’s top spot—and the automatic World Cup ticket—now looks set to go down to the final international window.

By Haruna Yakubu Haruna