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.
Super Eagles defender Calvin Bassey has opened up about a difficult period in his career, revealing that he almost stepped away from football.
Speaking during a recent interview, Bassey shared that he once made a personal promise to himself to quit pursuing football professionally if he failed to secure a spot at a professional club.
“I remember being 15 and going into my final year, and I told myself that if I didn’t get into a professional club, I would quit football. It was that simple,” he said.
“I would just stop pursuing it seriously and only play for fun. Thank God I eventually got a club, because I honestly don’t know where I would be otherwise.”
It has been reported that the Confederation of African Football (CAF) fined Egypt $5,000 following their clash with Zimbabwe for failing to manage post-match media obligations.
It was noted that after the match, the Egyptian players ignored the media. This action was said to be a violation of CAF’s media regulations, which led to the fine being imposed.
Head of the Super Eagles, Eric Chelle, shared that the big-name players on the team are not happy about being benched.
He recalled when he took out Samuel Chukwueze during the match against Tanzania.
“Yes, of course, we’ve in this team a lot of big names. They are competitors; they aren’t happy when they go to the bench,” Chelle said at his post-match interview.”
“My job is to make choices, and we’re playing a 4-4-2 diamond, and at this moment I feel we have to protect the wing.”
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