Sport
“We Must Win Against the Super Eagles to Reach AFCON 2025” – Rwanda Coach
Rwanda’s national football team, Amavubi, is gearing up for a crucial clash against Nigeria’s Super Eagles as they aim to keep their dream of qualifying for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations alive.
Head coach Torsten Spittler has expressed confidence in his team’s ability to rise to the occasion, vowing they will fight tooth and nail to secure a vital victory.
The East Africans face a daunting task, needing nothing short of a win against one of Africa’s footballing giants.
The Super Eagles, currently ranked among the top teams on the continent, have already booked their place in the prestigious tournament set to take place in Morocco.
Nigeria has shown impressive form throughout the qualifiers, maintaining an unbeaten streak and sitting comfortably at the top of Group D.
Rwanda, on the other hand, sits third in the group with five points, trailing second-placed Benin Republic, who have seven points.
With only one match left, the Amavubi must pull off a stunning upset in Uyo to stand any chance of advancing.
During a pre-match press conference in Uyo, Spittler acknowledged the magnitude of the challenge but remained optimistic.
“If we want to secure our ticket to AFCON 2025, we have no choice but to win against Nigeria,” said the German tactician.
“It’s a tough mission, but I believe in my team. We are ready to fight until the very last minute. I expect an intense and thrilling game.”
For Rwanda, this is not just a game but a defining moment in their football journey.
Known for their fighting spirit, the Amavubi have shown flashes of brilliance during the qualifiers but struggled with consistency.
Spittler, who took charge of the team with a vision to transform them into strong contenders, sees this match as an opportunity to demonstrate their growth and resilience.
Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal took a cheeky jab at Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham after his side’s thrilling 4-3 victory over Los Blancos in Sunday’s El Clasico.
Before the match, Barcelona had suffered a Champions League exit to Inter Milan, which led to some Real Madrid players, including Bellingham and club legend Sergio Ramos, showing support for Inter’s Alessandro Bastoni by liking his celebratory post on social media.
But Yamal had the last word after Barcelona’s win. The 17-year-old took to Instagram with a playful message, saying “like this one too” alongside a winking emoji. He posted a photo of himself mimicking a famous Cristiano Ronaldo celebration from 2012, when Ronaldo’s goal sealed a 2-1 win for Real Madrid over Barcelona after a crushing 5-0 defeat earlier that season.
Yamal’s goal, along with efforts from Eric Garcia and Raphinha, secured the victory for Barcelona, while Kylian Mbappé’s hat-trick wasn’t enough for Madrid.
Barcelona boss Hansi Flick praised Lamine Yamal for his mature display in their thrilling 4-3 victory over Real Madrid on Sunday. The 17-year-old forward impressed once again, helping push the Catalan side closer to the LaLiga title.
Yamal netted Barcelona’s second goal with a sharp finish into the corner of the net just inside the box, turning the game around after they had gone two goals down to an early Kylian Mbappé brace. By halftime, Barça were up 4-2. Though Mbappé later completed his hat-trick, Barcelona managed to hang on for the win at the Olympic Stadium, putting them seven points ahead of Madrid with only three matches left.
Speaking after the match, Flick dismissed any notion of Yamal being too young for the moment. “He’s not just a kid,” the coach said. “He’s confident, smart, and knows what he’s doing out there. That goal brought us back into the game and showed just how much quality he has at only 17. That’s exactly what we expect from him.”
Barcelona winger Raphinha has expressed deep gratitude toward manager Hansi Flick, crediting him for changing the course of his career. Ahead of Sunday’s El Clasico against Real Madrid, Raphinha shared how Flick’s influence made all the difference. The Brazilian revealed that, without Flick’s intervention, he might not have been at Barcelona today.
“I’ll always be thankful to Hansi Flick. He completely transformed my career,” Raphinha said, as quoted by Fabrizio Romano. “He wanted to see me in training before deciding my future, and he included me in his plans. Without him, I might be at another club right now, not Barcelona.”
Raphinha has been in outstanding form this season, scoring 32 goals and assisting 25 in 51 appearances for the Catalan side. He has already secured the Copa del Rey and Supercopa de España titles with Barcelona, and his performances have earned him a place as the joint-top scorer in the UEFA Champions League, tied with Borussia Dortmund’s Serhou Guirassy, both with 13 goals.
Brazilian football legend Rivaldo has even backed Raphinha to claim the 2025 Ballon d’Or, a testament to his remarkable rise.
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