By Mark Ogagan
Nigeria got their World Cup campaign back on track with three games remaining when they narrowly edged Rwanda 1-0 in a tense Group C fixture decided at Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo on Saturday.
Substitute Tolu Arokodare struck the winner in the second half to send Super Eagles to third place in Group C with 10 points, six behind leaders South Africa and a point behind second-placed Benin.
Nigeria suffered and early setback in the game when leading goal scorer Victor Osimhen was forced off 10 minutes before the break to compound a lacklustre performance by Eric Chelle’s men.
Chelle sent on Tolu Arokodare for Frank Onyeka at the break and the Wolves forward got the breakthrough six minutes later.
Rwanda goalkeeper Fiacre Ntwari denied Arokodare and when Ola Aina diverted the ball back towards goal, the prone substitute clattered it in via the underside of the crossbar.
Calvin Bassey made a vital clearance off the line as the clock ticked down, but Nigeria avoided a repeat of Zimbabwe’s stoppage-time equaliser in their March qualifier.
Much of Group C now appears to hinge on Tuesday’s qualifier between South Africa and Nigeria in Bloemfontein.
Bafana Bafana are six points clear of their rivals with three matches remaining. Only the group winners are guaranteed a place at the 2026 World Cup, while the runners-up could compete in the inter-confederation playoffs as one of the best four losers.
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