Nigeria Football 360

FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier

21^st March 2026, 20;00pm Rwanda time (18:00 UK, 19:00 Nigeria)

Look ahead. This is the fourth match between Rwanda and Nigeria in Kigali and Nigeria have never been able to come away with all three points from Rwanda, managing 3 draws previously. Nigeria, however, go into the match needing to grab their first ever win in Kigali to get their world cup campaign back on track. Nigeria have the advantage of “the unknown” with a new manager in Eric Sekou Chelle, and Nigerian fans are waiting with baited breath as the game is under 24 hours away. Anything less than 3 points and it will surely suck the wind out of our sails (wings).

Eric Chelle, however, seems to be a good fit, favouring an attacking style of football which plays to the Super Eagles strength with back to back African Players of the Year, Victor Osimhen (2023) and Ademola Lookman (2024) leading the charge.

The variation, though will be in the formation, the game strategy and style of play and it’s yet to be seen whether Eric will start with both Lookman as well as Moses Simon, another player who adds quality to the attack. The rest of the team more or less picks it’s self from back to front and no surprises are expected in the team charged to do battle, although where he will want to play Alex Iwobi is another unanswered question. Will Iwobi be given the right wing as he so often plays to good effect at his club, or be deployed in his Super Eagles traditional role in midfield? Eric is said to favour a strong midfield and possession based football.

The defensive midfield also is unpredictable as Wilfred Ndidi will probably start, but will he play a more advanced Central midfield role leaving Raphael Onyedika in the defensive midfielder role? The defence and goal keeping roles are much easier to predict with a very familiar lineup of Nwabali, Aina, Troost Calvin and Onyemeachi expected to start.

The bench presents the usual Achilles heel, with only a few of the players on the bench who can be looked at as real challengers for a starting spot, but will be looked at to inject quality to the field of play.

It’s almost impossible to predict individual player roles at this stage and the first run out will reveal how Eric Chelle decides to prosecute these matches.

Possible line up

Stanley Nwabali, Ola Aina, William Troost Ekong, Calvin Bassey, Bruno Onyemeachi, Raphael Onyedika, Wilfred Ndidi, Alex Iwobi, Moses Simon, Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman

Where to watch the match

Viewers outside of Africa can catch it on the FIFA+ app. For those within Africa, Supersport on DSTv is said to have acquired the rights to broadcast the match.