2025 Afconq Super Eagles v Wasps: Match preview, H2H, what to expect, key players, kickoff time

The Super Eagles of Nigeria are set to wrap up their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign with a highly anticipated clash against Rwanda's Wasps at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo.  

Nigeria has already secured qualification for the tournament in Morocco after Victor Osimhen's late equalizer against Benin Republic's Cheetahs in a thrilling 1-1 draw.

Nigeria's qualification was sealed courtesy of Libya's 1-0 win over Rwanda, which ensured the Super Eagles' passage to the continental showpiece. 

Rwanda, on the other hand, still harbors hopes of qualifying for the 2025 AFCON. 

A win against Nigeria, coupled with a favorable result in the other group match, could see them snatch a spot in the tournament.

Head-to-Head Records

Nigeria and Rwanda have met five times previously, with the Super Eagles boasting two wins and three draws. Rwanda is still searching for its first victory against Nigeria. 

Their most recent encounter ended in a goalless stalemate in Kigali, with Ademola Lookman's headed goal in the first half controversially chalked off by the officiating referee on the day.

Match Preview

Rwanda needs a victory against Nigeria to keep their hopes of qualification alive and send a message ahead of their World Cup meeting. 

The Wasps suffered a 0-1 loss to Libya in their last outing and will be seeking revenge against Nigeria, who dominated them in their first meeting but failed to score. 

Rwanda's coach, Thorsten Spittler, will be counting on his team's resilience and determination to pull off an upset.

Key Players for Nigeria

1. Victor Osimhen - The Napoli-owned forward rescued Nigeria from an embarrassing loss against Benin Republic's Cheetahs. 

He will undoubtedly be instrumental in Monday's clash, bringing his exceptional goal-scoring ability and aerial prowess.

2. Moses Simon - With experience on his side, Moses Simon never fails to prove his worth in a Nigerian jersey. 

He provided the assist for Osimhen against Benin in Abidjan and will be extremely dangerous for Nigeria on the flanks, utilizing his tenacity and trickery.

3. Alex Iwobi - Despite struggling in the last encounter due to Austin Eguavoen's initial 5-2-3 set-up, Iwobi's flashes of creative brilliance was still sparingly evident. 

His quality is never in doubt, and he will be crucial against Rwanda, providing vision and control in midfield.

Venue and Kickoff Time

The game is scheduled to take place on Monday, November 18th, 2024, at 5 p.m. Nigeria time at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo.

Where to Watch

The match will be broadcast live on Afro Sport.

Expectations

With Nigeria already qualified, the pressure is off, but they will still be seeking to maintain their unbeaten record in the qualifiers ahead of the 2025 AFCON. 

Rwanda, on the other hand, needs a win to keep their qualification hopes alive. Nigeria's interim manager, Austin Eguavoen, will be looking to experiment with his squad and fine-tune his strategies ahead of the AFCON. 

This clash promises to be an exciting conclusion to Nigeria's qualifying campaign, with Rwanda pushing to keep their AFCON dreams alive. 

Ejim Kaycee

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