Super Eagles defender William Troost-Ekong has given high praise to the Rwanda national team as Nigeria faces them in their 2025 AFCON qualifying Group D match at Amahoro Stadium in Kigali today.
Nigeria is set to play Rwanda in their second match of the series, following a 3-0 victory over Benin Republic in Uyo last Saturday. The win was highlighted by a brace from 2024 Ballon d’Or nominee Ademola Lookman and a superb goal from reigning African Player of the Year, Victor Osimhen.
After their strong start at home, the Super Eagles are aiming for a second consecutive win to gain an early advantage in the group. However, Troost-Ekong believes the match will be a challenging encounter.
“There is nothing much to say other than that we are here for a purpose. Our target is the three points, and we have spoken among ourselves on the imperative of going hard for it from the first blast of the referee’s whistle.
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“It is going to be a tough game because Rwanda have a good team and got a point from their first match. We must not relent throughout the 90 minutes.”
Rwanda secured a 1-1 draw against Libya’s Mediterranean Knights in Tripoli during their opening match of the series last Thursday and have had additional time to prepare for their clash with Nigeria.
The Super Eagles’ 3-0 victory in Uyo marked Ekong’s return to the squad following his standout performance at the recent AFCON. He views their strong start in the qualifiers as a crucial step toward qualifying for the tournament in Morocco next year.
The 31-year-old, who was named MVP at the 2023 AFCON held earlier this year in Ivory Coast, is optimistic about their prospects.
Rwanda is also in Nigeria’s group for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, with both teams set to face each other in future international windows.