It is crunch time for Nigeria. With their World Cup qualifying campaign teetering on the edge, the Super Eagles host Rwanda in Uyo knowing anything less than victory could hand South Africa the ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
On paper, Nigeria have the stars, the pedigree, the FIFA ranking, and the home crowd. But football isn’t won on paper. It’s won on grass, and Rwanda have already shown they can sting.
That puts head coach Eric Chelle under the spotlight. The Malian tactician is unbeaten in his five matches in charge of the Super Eagles, but this fixture is by far the biggest test yet. His team sheet will be scrutinised, and every tactical tweak will be magnified.
Eric Chelle has inherited one of Africa’s most talented squads, but talent without direction is wasted.
Rwanda have proven awkward customers. They beat Nigeria here in AFCON qualifying last year and currently sit above the Super Eagles in the group standings. Anything short of a win will feel like a disaster for Chelle’s men.
The Super Eagles have the firepower. The question is whether Chelle has the courage to make the right calls. Tonight, Nigeria’s World Cup hopes rest not just on Osimhen’s boots but on Chelle’s clipboard.
Five big decisions loom, each capable of shaping Nigeria’s night for better or worse.
1. Who starts at left-back: Calvin Bassey or Felix Agu?
It is a position that has been a revolving door for Nigeria. Bruno Onyemaechi is available, but the real contest looks to be between Fulham’s Calvin Bassey and Werder Bremen’s Felix Agu.
Bassey’s story is intriguing. He made his Super Eagles debut at left-back, only to shift into central defence at Ajax and then at Fulham, where he was named the club’s Player of the Season. But Marco Silva has recently restored him to left-back, with promising results.
Should Chelle follow suit and trust Bassey to lock down the flank? Or go with Agu, a Bundesliga regular with more natural experience in the role? Nigeria’s balance depends heavily on this call.
2. Who anchors the midfield: Ndidi, Onyeka or Onyedika?
For years, Wilfred Ndidi has been Nigeria’s midfield marshal. At his best, he was a human wall breaking play, intercepting, tackling, and setting attacks in motion. But Ndidi is no longer the same force; injuries and form have taken their toll.
Enter Frank Onyeka and Raphael Onyedika. Onyeka, after a strong season in the Bundesliga with Augsburg and an impressive AFCON campaign last year, has the energy and bite to disrupt Rwanda’s rhythm. Onyedika, classy and composed at Club Brugge, offers a more refined distribution game.
Do you go with Ndidi’s experience, Onyeka’s engine, or Onyedika’s craft? Chelle’s midfield anchor could dictate whether Nigeria dominate or get swarmed.
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3. Iwobi or Uche or both?
Alex Iwobi is Nigeria’s creative constant. For years, he’s carried the tag of chief playmaker, though critics argue he has rarely seized the truly decisive moments in big games.
Now comes the upstart: Christantus Uche. At just 22, he was Getafe’s shining light in La Liga last season with four goals and six assists. His move to Crystal Palace reflects his rapid rise. Strong, direct, and fearless, Uche offers what Iwobi sometimes lacks: physicality and an ability to bully defenders.
Does Chelle dare to drop Iwobi for the new kid? Or play both, which might require a reshaped formation? It’s the type of selection call that defines coaches. Get it right, and Nigeria’s midfield hums. Get it wrong, and they risk being predictable.
4. Who partners Victor Osimhen up front?
Victor Osimhen’s name is the first on the team sheet. The Galatasaray striker is Nigeria’s undisputed talisman. The bigger question is: who plays alongside him?
In Chelle’s 4-4-2, he has tried wingers like Moses Simon and Ademola Lookman up top, but the chemistry hasn’t clicked.
Cyriel Dessers and Tolu Arokodare are natural strikers who could complement Osimhen better. Dessers is more experienced in Europe, while Arokodare brings youthful height and unpredictability.
This decision isn’t cosmetic, it could be the difference between Nigeria converting dominance into goals or watching chances fizzle.
5. Stick with 4-4-2 or gamble on 4-2-3-1?
Chelle is a believer in 4-4-2. It has brought him three wins and two draws in five matches with the Super Eagles. But critics point to Nigeria’s attacking riches and wonder if the rigid two-bank system is limiting.
The alternative? A 4-2-3-1. It would free wingers Chukwueze, Simon, Lookman, and allow Uche and Iwobi to coexist in creative roles. On paper, it looks mouth-watering. But history warns against it: both José Peseiro and Finidi George tried and failed with the same shape.
Does Chelle trust his philosophy or bend to the strengths of his squad? That choice may determine whether Nigeria look organised or overrun.
