A carnival-like atmosphere is set to engulf Uyo as Nigeria’s Super Eagles host Rwanda’s Amavubi in the final matchday of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers. Both teams arrived in the Akwa Ibom capital on Friday ahead of the clash scheduled for Monday at the iconic Godswill Akpabio Stadium.

The Road to Uyo

The Super Eagles, already confirmed as group winners, landed at the Obong Victor Attah International Airport at 3:50 p.m. aboard a chartered ValueJet aircraft from Abidjan. Fresh off a hard-fought draw against Benin Republic, the team now looks to play for national pride in front of their home crowd.

Meanwhile, the Amavubi arrived in Uyo via a connecting Ibom Air flight from Lagos after flying in from Kigali earlier in the day. They landed just before 5 p.m., brimming with determination despite their slim qualification chances.

Rwanda’s Dwindling Hope

Rwanda’s campaign suffered a blow on Thursday after a home loss to Libya, leaving their AFCON hopes hanging by a thread. To qualify, the Amavubi not only need to secure a historic win over Nigeria but also require Libya to defeat Benin Republic in North Africa.

The reverse fixture in Kigali ended in a goalless draw, though it was marred by controversy when a first-half header by Ademola Lookman was disallowed by Moroccan officials. Coincidentally, Monday’s match will also be officiated by a Moroccan team, led by referee Samir Guezzaz.

The Stage is Set

Kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m., with Guezzaz and his compatriots arriving in Nigeria on Saturday. The Super Eagles will look to celebrate their AFCON qualification in style, while Rwanda aims to defy the odds in a desperate push for Morocco 2025.

The city of Uyo is expected to come alive with fans eager to witness a thrilling encounter as Nigeria wraps up its qualifying campaign with the AFCON ticket already secured.