Rwanda’s historic 2-1 victory over Nigeria exposes midfield weaknesses

Nigeria’s Super Eagles endured a shocking 2-1 defeat at the hands of Rwanda’s Amavubi on Monday, marking the first time in history that Rwanda has defeated the Nigerian national team. The loss comes shortly after Nigeria secured their qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations with a draw against Benin last week.

Interim coach Augustine Eguavoen, who fielded a heavily rotated squad with seven changes from the previous game, hoped to give fringe players an opportunity to shine. Despite Nigeria’s dominance in the first half, they struggled to break down Rwanda’s defense and failed to create decisive opportunities.

The introduction of Villarreal winger Samuel Chukwueze in the second half initially appeared to change the game. Chukwueze broke the deadlock with a well-taken goal, but the Super Eagles’ defensive frailties were exposed shortly after. Rwanda stunned the Nigerians by scoring two quick goals within three minutes, flipping the script and taking control of the match.

In his post-match remarks, Eguavoen expressed frustration with his team’s inability to convert dominance into goals. He cited the absence of a true playmaker as a critical factor behind their struggles.

“Goals win games, we all know that. They are scoring goals in their club sides, they are scoring goals in training. But when it comes to the game, they don’t score goals. I keep asking the same questions,” Eguavoen lamented.

“But you know there are some players who can make a difference, who can put the ball into space for them to go to goal. We are still looking for that player who has that flair and creativity. A good playmaker who can put the ball into space for them.”

The defeat reignites a long-standing debate about Nigeria’s lack of creativity in midfield—a problem that has plagued the Super Eagles for years. As they prepare for the upcoming FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, finding a solution to this issue will be critical for Nigeria’s success on the global stage.