Rwanda head coach Adel Amrouche did not hide his frustration after his side’s 2-0 defeat to Nigeria in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, blaming his players for gifting the Super Eagles both goals.

Victor Osimhen was the star of the night at the Amahoro Stadium, scoring twice in the 10th and 45th minutes to secure a vital win for Nigeria. The victory keeps the Super Eagles’ World Cup hopes alive as they chase qualification for the tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

However, for Amrouche, the result was a bitter pill to swallow. Speaking to the media after the game, the Algerian coach did not hold back in his criticism.

“We gifted them two goals. Imagine conceding a goal in the 10th minute, and I had to change my game plan,” Amrouche lamented.

The coach’s anger was evident, especially with the presence of Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame and First Lady Jeannette Kagame among the passionate home crowd. Amrouche questioned his players’ commitment and warned of potential changes if standards do not improve.

“My players lacked fighting spirit. I hate to lose. I am not a loser,” he declared. “What hurt me most is that the president of the nation was there. Look at the fans who came to support us. If some of the players don’t improve, they will go because new players are coming.”

Despite his disappointment, Amrouche called on his team to shift focus to their next crucial match against Lesotho on Tuesday.

“That is football, we have lost. We must quickly forget about it and get a win on Tuesday against Lesotho,” he added.

The loss leaves Rwanda in third place in Group C with seven points, trailing leaders South Africa, who have ten points after defeating Lesotho 2-0. Rwanda will aim to bounce back when they host Lesotho at the Amahoro Stadium on March 25.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s historic victory – their first on Rwandan soil – sees them climb to fourth place with six points from five matches. The Super Eagles remain four points behind South Africa and will seek to close the gap when they face Zimbabwe in Uyo.

With Bafana Bafana set to play second-placed Benin, who have eight points, the next round of fixtures promises to reshape the group standings significantly.