Looking to exact revenge for defeat in November, Nigeria travel to meet Rwanda in CAF World Cup qualifying on Friday.
Having already qualified for AFCON 2025 as group winners coming into the match last winter, the Super Eagles rotated their squad and suffered a 2-1 loss to this same opponent as Rwanda scored two goals just three minutes apart in the final 20 minutes to complete a comeback victory.
That result was the last straw for Augustine Eguavoen, who became the fourth coach fired by the Nigerian federation in the past four years. He was replaced by former Mali international Eric Chelle, who was officially installed in early January and will make his competitive debut in this match.
Chelle was hired from Algerian club MC Oran, where he spent six months after being let go as Mali head coach last summer.
The Sporting News runs through the latest team news and injury updates for both sides as the match draws nearer.
MORE: Full Nigeria squad for World Cup qualifier against Rwanda
Nigeria lineups, predicted starting 11, team news vs. Rwanda
Chelle will likely reinstall a number of first-team regulars who started on the bench in the AFCON qualifier between these two sides in November. Players like Victor Osimhen, Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey, and Samuel Chukwueze should all be back in the starting lineup.
Star goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali is also likely to return after missing the recent meeting.
The most interesting roster decision by Chelle in his first international window was to leave off Kelechi Iheanacho from the squad, as the former Man City star has struggled on loan at Middlesbrough, yet to log a single goal contribution since joining in the winter. Also on the outside is midfielder Frank Onyeka who played a role in the team’s run to the latest AFCON final.
Nigeria predicted XI (4-3-3, right to left): Nwabali (GK) — Osayi-Samuel, Troost-Ekong, Bassey, Onyemaechi — Iwobi, Onyedika, Ndidi— Chukwueze, Osimhen, Simon.
Injured: None.
Suspended: None.
Rwanda vs. Nigeria live stream, TV channel
Here’s how to watch this CAF World Cup qualifying match across selected areas of the world’s major regions:
| Date | Time | TV channel | Streaming | |
| USA | Fri, Mar. 21 | 12 p.m. ET / 9 a.m. PT | — | FIFA+ |
| Canada | Fri, Mar. 21 | 12 p.m. ET / 9 a.m. PT | — | FIFA+ |
| UK | Fri, Mar. 21 | 4 p.m. GMT | — | FIFA+ |
| Australia | Sat, Mar. 21 | 3 a.m. ADST | — | FIFA+ |
| India | Fri, Mar. 21 | 9:30 p.m. IST | — | FanCode |
