Rwanda skipper Djihad Bizimana insists his side will not be treated as second best when they face Nigeria in Uyo on Saturday in a crunch 2026 World Cup qualifier, Soccernet.ng reports.
Nigeria, three-time African champions and ranked 44th in the world, are heavy favourites on paper against Rwanda, who sit 127th. The Super Eagles also hold the head-to-head edge with three wins, four draws and just one defeat in eight meetings.
The last time the two nations met, Victor Osimhen struck twice in Kigali to give Nigeria a 2-0 victory in March. Yet Bizimana, who plays his club football with Al Ahli SC, believes those statistics count for little given the current standings.
Rwanda sit third in Group C with eight points, one clear of Nigeria in fourth, following wins for South Africa and Benin on Friday night.
That slender advantage, coupled with their shock 2-1 comeback win over Nigeria in AFCON qualifying on the same Uyo turf last year, has given the Amavubi confidence.
What did the Rwanda skipper say?
“The underdog (label) I don’t accept. We are also a team that can compete, we showed it the last time that we were here,” Bizimana said at the pre-match press conference.
“We are coming here to play good football and try to win the game. Because if you see on the table we have a chance if we win. We have a chance to qualify for the World Cup.”
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That victory in November 2024 remains Rwanda’s only triumph over Nigeria, but it has already shifted perceptions. Despite never qualifying for the World Cup, the Amavubi now view themselves as genuine contenders rather than plucky outsiders.
Nigeria, desperate to avoid missing consecutive World Cups after the disaster of 2022, face huge pressure to respond.
The Super Eagles boast firepower in Osimhen, Ademola Lookman and Samuel Chukwueze but their inconsistency during the qualifying campaign has left them vulnerable.