{"id":835688,"date":"2025-03-21T11:12:36","date_gmt":"2025-03-21T16:12:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/21\/super-eagles-dont-scare-us-rwanda-unfazed-by-osimhen-and-lookman-threat-in-world-cup-qualifier\/"},"modified":"2025-03-21T11:12:36","modified_gmt":"2025-03-21T16:12:36","slug":"super-eagles-dont-scare-us-rwanda-unfazed-by-osimhen-and-lookman-threat-in-world-cup-qualifier","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/21\/super-eagles-dont-scare-us-rwanda-unfazed-by-osimhen-and-lookman-threat-in-world-cup-qualifier\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cSuper Eagles don\u2019t scare us\u201d \u2013 Rwanda unfazed by Osimhen and Lookman threat in World Cup qualifier"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Soccer <\/p>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p><strong>Rwanda assistant coach Eric Nshimiyimana and captain Djihad Bizimana have insisted that the Amavubi are not intimidated by the star-studded Nigeria Super Eagles squad ahead of their crucial 2026 World Cup qualifier in Kigali, <a href=\"https:\/\/Soccernet.ng\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Soccernet.ng<\/a> reports<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>The Super Eagles arrive in Rwanda with one of Africa\u2019s most formidable attacking forces, featuring Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Moses Simon, and Victor Boniface.<\/p>\n<p>Head coach Eric Chelle will be eager to unleash his firepower, with Osimhen and Lookman leading the charge after outstanding seasons in Europe.<\/p>\n<p>Osimhen, crowned Africa\u2019s best player in 2023, has registered 31 goal contributions (31 G+A) this season, while Lookman \u2014 who took over the prestigious CAF award in 2024 \u2014 has 25 G+A.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_154210\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-154210\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/app\/uploads\/2025\/03\/GmbK4KtXkAAEy1m.jpeg\" alt=\"Soccer Nigeria Super Eagles im training. Photo Credit X\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1582\"  ><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-154210\">Nigeria Super Eagles im training. Photo Credit X<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Simon and Boniface have also been in fine form, with 14 and 12 goal involvements, respectively. Combined, the quartet has recorded an impressive 82 goal contributions\u2014more than Rwanda\u2019s national team has managed in all competitions over the past nine years.<\/p>\n<blockquote data-media-max-width=\"560\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"qme\"><a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/DhlEHZ7NgK\" target=\"_blank\">pic.twitter.com\/DhlEHZ7NgK<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Super Eagles (@NGSuperEagles) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NGSuperEagles\/status\/1902982694004224183?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">March 21, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/www.whatsapp.com\/channel\/0029VagMHLcA89MZvw0Btc21\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Get Our Sports News First \u2013 Join Our WhatsApp Channel Now!<\/a><\/h4>\n<p><strong>READ MORE\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/2025\/03\/nigeria-rwanda-chelles-super-eagles.html\">Nigeria\u2019s Best XI vs Rwanda: Predicting Eric Chelle\u2019s Super Eagles lineup for Kigali showdown<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/2025\/03\/victor-osimhen-nigeria-barcelona.html\">Victor Osimhen: Nigeria &#038; Galatasaray star\u2019s market value drops as Barcelona plan summer swoop<\/a><\/li>\n<li>\u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/2025\/03\/headmaster-tells-super-eagles-to-win.html\">We can\u2019t afford to lose or draw\u201d- Ex-Real Madrid midfielder tells Super Eagles ahead of Rwanda clash<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>On paper, Nigeria are clear favourites for the matchday five clash, but Rwanda\u2019s camp remains undeterred.<\/p>\n<h2>Soccer What Rwanda said of the Super Eagles\u00a0<\/h2>\n<p>Despite the daunting opposition, Rwanda\u2019s captain Djihad Bizimana dismissed any fear factor surrounding the Super Eagles.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cWe have played against them before, and there is no pressure,\u201d Bizimana said, as per <a href=\"https:\/\/www.newtimes.co.rw\/article\/24998\/sports\/football\/nshimiyimana-insists-amavubi-can-build-on-spittlers-mentality\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">New Times<\/a>. \u201cWe just respect them, but they don\u2019t scare us. We are looking forward to the game.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Nigeria, currently sitting fifth in Group C with just three points, are in desperate need of a victory to reignite their World Cup qualification hopes.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_154205\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-154205\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/app\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Gf9lvSWXMAAWjsj-750x500-1.jpeg\" alt=\"Soccer Rwanda's Amavubi. Photo by IMAGO \" width=\"750\" height=\"500\"  ><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-154205\">Rwanda\u2019s Amavubi. Photo by IMAGO<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Meanwhile, Rwanda, under new head coach Adel Amrouche, are second in the group with seven points but they could return to the summit with a victory.<\/p>\n<p>Rwanda made a managerial switch just days before this match, appointing Amrouche as the new national team boss. His assistant, Nshimiyimana, was full of praise for former coach Torsten Spittler, who guided Amavubi to the top of Group C before departing in December 2024.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cSpittler started well, and the team is in a good position. I hope we can build on what he did by maintaining the team at the top of the World Cup qualifiers,\u201d Nshimiyimana stated.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<figure id=\"attachment_154204\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-154204\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/app\/uploads\/2025\/03\/imago1054361789-750x500-1.jpg\" alt=\"Soccer Nigeria vs Rwanda. Photo by IMAGO \" width=\"750\" height=\"500\"  ><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-154204\">Nigeria vs Rwanda. Photo by IMAGO<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Amrouche, who officially took charge in early March, faces the challenge of continuing Rwanda\u2019s momentum in the qualifiers.<\/p>\n<p>With the Amavubi in a great position, a win against Nigeria would take them to 10 points ahead of their next home fixture against Lesotho on March 25.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Soccer Imhonlamhen Eronmhonsele\" src=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/app\/uploads\/2024\/12\/DSC_0327-copy-150x150.jpg\"  height=\"80\" width=\"80\">\t\t<\/p>\n<div>\n<h3>\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/author\/imhonlamhen-eronmhonsele\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\tImhonlamhen Eronmhonsele\t\t\t\t<\/a><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/h3>\n<p>\n\t\t\t\tImhonlamhen Eronmhonsele turns into a ball of passion when writing about Nigerian football and its talents, whether rising stars or established legends, locally and abroad.<\/p>\n<p>From the deepest corners of the Middle East, to the green fields of the Americas, to the celebrated grounds in Europe, and the rich soils of Africa, Imhons is more than glad, usually with a glass of a tasty drink nearby, to capture the essence of the game, by connecting the dots between culture, identity, and football.\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/2025\/03\/super-eagles-rwanda-osimhen-lookman.html\" class=\"button purchase\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Read More<\/a>Imhonlamhen Eronmhonsele<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Soccer Rwanda assistant coach Eric Nshimiyimana and captain Djihad Bizimana have insisted that the Amavubi are not intimidated by the star-studded Nigeria Super Eagles squad ahead of their crucial 2026 World Cup qualifier in Kigali, Soccernet.ng reports. The Super Eagles arrive in Rwanda with one of Africa\u2019s most formidable attacking forces, featuring Victor Osimhen, Ademola [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":835689,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3577,2005,4578],"tags":[7956,6323],"class_list":{"0":"post-835688","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-eagles","8":"category-soccer","9":"category-super","10":"tag-eagles","11":"tag-super"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/835688","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=835688"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/835688\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/835689"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=835688"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=835688"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=835688"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}