WCQ: Rwanda vs Nigeria team news and predicted lineups

Nigeria faces Rwanda in a crucial 2026 World Cup qualifier as new coach Eric Chelle looks to secure the Super Eagles' first win of the campaign.

The Super Eagles of Nigeria must beat Rwanda to stay on course for World Cup qualification as they battle in Kigali on Friday. (Photo credit: GOAL)

The Super Eagles of Nigeria will face the Amavubi of Rwanda in a 2026 World Cup qualifier, with head coach Eric Chelle taking charge of the team for the first time since his appointment in January.

The Malian was hired to replace interim head coach Austin Eguavoen, and the big task before him is to lead the Super Eagles of Nigeria to the 2026 World Cup, with the 2024 AFCON finalist languishing at the base of the group and in danger of missing out on the World Cup for successive years.

The game at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali on Friday is the fifth in the qualifying round, and only a win will suffice for the Super Eagles, who could find it impossible to qualify for the World Cup if they don’t beat the Amavibi in Rwanda.

The last game between the two sides went to the hosts, as the Nigerian side had already qualified for the 2025 AFCON as group winners and rotated roundly in the latter stages of the game last winter, allowing Rwanda to level and then turn things around with the winner, all within three minutes.

Coach Chelle is expected to restore a number of first-team players, including star goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, Victor Osimhen and Alex Iwobi. Calvin Bassey is also expected to return to the starting lineup with no shocker expected from Chelle’s official debut.

Rwanda needs the result too; they have beaten the Super Eagles before and would believe they can do it again. However, they’re battling fitness in their ranks with a couple of stars pulling out of the encounter due to injuries.

Chelle is expected to restore Nwabali in goal, with Nottingham Forest’s Ola Aina and Turkey-based Osayi-Samuel in the fullback positions; Chelle will likely pick Bassey and team captain William Troost-Ekong in the heart of the defence.

Iwobi, Wilfred Ndidi and Raphael Onyedika are the expected midfield trio, while Samuel Chukwueze and Moses Simon will flank Victor Osimhen in attack. The form of the Galatasaray man should be dreaded by the Rwandans; this should be great to watch.