Super Eagles coach Augustine Eguavoen expressed disappointment following Nigeria’s 1-2 loss to Rwanda in their final AFCON 2025 qualifier at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo.
Despite dominating the group and securing qualification, the Super Eagles fell short against Rwanda’s Amavubi, conceding two goals in the second half after Samuel Chukwueze had given Nigeria the lead.
Speaking after the match, Eguavoen admitted the team’s performance was subpar.
“Below standard, I feel very sad right now. It was not what we planned for,” he said. “We scored and then conceded against the run of play. I tried to change formation, but it didn’t work. Football is about winning, losing, or drawing, and today, it didn’t happen for us.”
Eguavoen, however, reaffirmed his belief in the team's potential despite the disappointing result, highlighting the unpredictable nature of football.
Rwanda’s coach, Torsten Spittler, hailed his players’ discipline and execution of tactics.
“I’m very proud of my boys; they played according to instructions,” Spittler said. “Even though we didn’t qualify for the AFCON, defeating Nigeria on their soil is a significant achievement for us.”
The Super Eagles, finishing atop their group with 10 points, now turn their focus to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, where they aim to put this setback behind them and compete for the title.
