Eguavoen trusts Super Eagles depth as Aina, Lookman, and Nwabali miss Rwanda clash

Caretaker coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria, Augustine Eguavoen, has expressed full confidence in the squad’s depth to deliver a positive result at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, Soccernet.ng reports. 

The 2013 Africa Cup of Nations champions face Rwanda today in their final 2025 AFCON qualifying match, but the team will have to do so without key players Ola Aina, Ademola Lookman, and goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali.

Despite having already secured their spot as Group D winners, the Eguavoen reveals his team is approaching the encounter with professionalism and determination to claim maximum points.

“The 23 players are capable of playing at any given time. But as we speak now, three [of them] have gone back to their clubs. [Stanley] Nwabali, we all know what happened. So [for] whoever we pick tomorrow, I think we will all have a good day.

“Our boys are 100% professional, and they know what it takes to win games, they know what it takes to perform, So I am not sure they are going to blink for a minute. The way we approach Rwanda is the same way we will approach Brazil. The same way we approach Argentina is the same we’ll use against Rwanda.” The former KAA Gent player said ahead of the game.

Tactical Adjustments and Squad Depth

Maduka Okoye is expected to return to the starting XI, making his first appearance for the Super Eagles since 2021. Bright Osayi-Samuel could slot into the right wing-back position, while Bruno Onyemaechi is likely to take the left flank. Troost-Ekong and Calvin Bassey will form the defensive backbone.

In midfield, options such as Wilfred Ndidi, Alex Iwobi, and Frank Onyeka are available, while Victor Osimhen, tied with Segun Odegbami on 23 international goals, leads the attack.

With Lookman unavailable, Moses Simon, Samuel Chukwueze, and Victor Boniface will shoulder additional attacking responsibilities.

Kick-Off Details

The game kicks off at 5 PM local time, with fans eager to see if the Super Eagles can maintain their unbeaten run and dampen Rwanda’s hopes of AFCON qualification.

For Nigeria, it’s a chance to refine tactics and sustain momentum ahead of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, which resume in March 2025. For Rwanda, it’s a battle for survival, with everything on the line.