Arokodare Strike Revives Super Eagles’ World Cup Hopes with 1-0 Win Over Rwanda

|By Babatunji Wusu

Nigeria edged Rwanda 1-0 on Saturday to keep their faint hopes of reaching the 2026 FIFA World Cup alive.

The Super Eagles, who began the match in fourth place with just seven points and trailed leaders South Africa by nine, needed a crucial victory at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium.

Victor Osimhen appeared to have given Nigeria the lead in the first half, but his close-range effort was controversially disallowed for offside. Replays suggested the Napoli striker was onside, but the absence of VAR left the decision uncontested.

Substitute Tolu Arokodare finally broke the deadlock in the second half, scrambling the ball over the line to hand Nigeria all three points.

The win lifts the Super Eagles into third place, setting up a high-stakes clash against South Africa in three days’ time as their qualification battle intensifies.