Nigeria’s 2–0 win over Rwanda in Kigali wasn’t just about the three points—it was about stopping the bleeding. After a dreadful start to their World Cup qualifying campaign, the Super Eagles finally put an end to a four-game winless run. For Eric Chelle, it was the kind of debut he needed. Questions lingered about his credentials before a ball was even kicked, and a defeat in his first game would have made the noise even louder. Instead, Victor Osimhen’s brace ensured the right kind of headlines.
But the real test is tomorrow. If the win in Kigali was about ending a slump, the game against Zimbabwe is about proving it wasn’t a one-off. Momentum is everything in a long qualifying campaign, and Nigeria can’t afford another misstep.
A win won’t take them top of the group, but it keeps them within striking distance. More importantly, it keeps the belief alive.
Nigeria’s win over Rwanda wasn’t exactly vintage Super Eagles. There were nervy spells, some sloppy moments in possession, and a midfield that didn’t always offer enough control. But right now, style is secondary. This was about getting a result—something to steady the ship after a miserable start to World Cup qualifying. For Eric Chelle, it was a solid first step.
He made a statement with his selection. A front two of Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman was bold, but it worked. Osimhen’s return felt inevitable—he’d missed the previous qualifiers, and plenty of fans believed Nigeria would have been in a better position if he’d been there. He wasted no time proving them right, scoring twice before half-time to settle the game.
It wasn’t perfect. Rwanda had chances, and Nigeria’s defence still looked vulnerable at times. But they kept a clean sheet, got over the line, and for now, that’s all that matters.
That’s what makes tomorrow’s clash with Zimbabwe so important. On paper, it looks straightforward. Zimbabwe sit bottom of Group C with three points from three draws and are yet to win a game in the qualifiers. But that’s exactly what makes them dangerous. They’ve been stubborn, hard to beat, and could easily play the role of spoilers.
Nigeria can’t afford to take this lightly. They have to handle the pressure of expectation, the weight of knowing that anything less than three points would be a setback. A win keeps them moving in the right direction. A draw—or worse, a defeat? That’s a scenario fans won’t even want to think about right now.
So, however it comes—fluid attacking football or a scrappy, hard-fought grind—Nigeria just have to find a way.
Winning your first game as Nigeria’s coach is one thing. But winning two in a row, especially with the pressure piling on, is something else entirely. Eric Chelle knows World Cup qualification isn’t just about getting off the mark—it’s about building momentum. If they slip up now, the Super Eagles could be right back where they started: stuck in a cycle of inconsistency.
This isn’t just another qualifier. It’s a chance to show that the win in Kigali wasn’t a fluke, that this team is moving in the right direction.
The job’s far from done. But another three points tomorrow would do wonders for restoring belief and keeping Nigeria’s World Cup dream alive. They just have to find a way to keep that momentum going.
