Rwanda Suffer Double Blow Ahead of 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifier vs Nigeria
- Nigeria and Rwanda are set to clash in the next round of the African 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers
- The Super Eagles have an almost full house at their training camp in Kigali head of the crucial game
- The Amavubi have been hit by two withdrawals over a family incident before the match this Friday
Sad news has hit the Rwanda camp going into their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier game against Nigeria on Friday, March 21, 2025.
The nations meet at the Amahoro National Stadium in Kigali and the Super Eagles need a win to get their campaign back on track.
Source: AFP
Nigeria's new head coach Eric Chelle will manage his first games after he was appointed in January, assuming the responsibility of seeing the Super Eagles advance to the Mundial.
He is set to manage his first match against Rwanda on Friday and is already in camp with the players as they begin working towards the match which will make or mar the qualification chances.
The Super Eagles previously faced Rwanda during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers and the East Africans picked four points off Nigeria after a 0-0 draw in Kigali and a 2-1 win in Uyo.
Rwanda camp hit with bad news
Rwanda's preparation for the game on Friday would be affected after two players left the camp to attend to a family bereavement, with their status uncertain.
According to FERWAFA, players Omborenga Fitina and Nshimiyimana Yunusu lost their mother on Monday evening in terrible news for the Rwandan camp.
“Members of the National Team and Football fans, in general, join the family of Omborenga Fitina and Nshimiyimana Yunusu who lost their mother on the evening of 17/03/2025. May the mother rest in Peace,” the federation’s statement reads.
FERWAFA published a video of the players consoling the two defenders before they exited the camp and it is doubtful they would return before the match on Friday.
Omborenga plays for Rayon Sports, while his brother Nshimiyimana plays for APR FC, with the former among the team they beat Nigeria 2-1 in Uyo in November.
Source: Twitter
According to data from FIFA, Rwanda top CAF's qualifying series Group C with seven points after four matches, leading South Africa and the Benin Republic on goal difference.
The team was previously managed by German tactician Franck Spittler, but he left after his contract was left to expire after failing to see his charges qualify for AFCON 2025.
The federation hired Algerian tactician Adel Amrouche to take over ahead of the games against Nigeria and Lesotho, both happening at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali.
Adel Amrouche sends warning to Nigeria
Legit.ng also reported that coach Amrouche warned Nigeria and other Group C teams after he was named Rwanda's national team’s new head coach.
The Algerian coach replaced Frank Spittler, whose contract was not renewed after the Wasps missed out on last year's AFCON on goal difference.
The Rwanda boss said he was aiming to create 'something special' and planned to beat Nigeria before the game against Lesotho a few days later.
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Source: Legit.ng
