AFCON Qualifiers: We deserved to beat Nigeria, Rwanda coach boasts
The Rwandan team executed their strategy perfectly, frustrating the Super Eagles throughout the match.
Rwanda's coach, Torsten Spittler, expressed pride in his team's performance after securing a historic 2-1 victory over Nigeria's Super Eagles at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium.
"I'm very proud of my boys, how they played here in Nigeria. I think it was well-deserved. We defended well and played good football," Spittler said.
The Rwandan team executed their strategy perfectly, frustrating the Super Eagles throughout the match.
"Maybe today is our lucky day and a happy day for us, even though we have not qualified for the AFCON, but I think we are happy to have come here and get three points," Spittler added.
Rwanda's victory was a testament to their determination, as they stifled Nigeria's game by disconnecting the midfield and attack. Despite Nigeria's dominance in the group, the Super Eagles were unconvincing for most of the match.
Substitute Samuel Chukwueze scored Nigeria's only goal in the 67th minute, but Rwanda equalized through Marie Gueulette's header in the 72nd minute. The Amavubi then sealed their win with a second goal just three minutes later.
Although the victory was bittersweet, as Rwanda failed to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations due to Benin Republic's 0-0 draw with Libya,
Spittler remained optimistic. "We gave them a hard time from the beginning; you could see in the faces of Nigerian players that they didn't enjoy this evening."
Nigeria topped the group with 10 points, securing their spot in the 2025 AFCON scheduled to take place in
