Group winners Nigeria got a huge sucker punch when losing 1-2 to the Amavubi (Bees) of Rwanda right at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium on the closing day of qualifiers for the 35^th Africa Cup of Nations finals.

The Eagles, who were expected to go for a win to finish on a high in a pool they dominated, were unconvincing for large parts of the game, and it took substitute Samuel Chukwueze, on for Kelechi Iheanacho at the beginning of the second period, and with two-thirds of the match gone, to produce any real excitement for the sparse crowd in south-south Nigeria.

The Italy-based forward made himself available to receive a pass from midfielder Frank Onyeka, and then waltzed his way past three defenders before lashing the ball past the impressive goalkeeper Fiacre Ntwari for Nigeria’s only goal.

The visitors were able to stifle Nigeria’s game with the disconnect between the midfield and attack of the Super Eagles, and Victor Boniface, with another opportunity to stake his claim to a starting shirt, could not provide any real threat to the Amavubi rearguard.

Moses Simon, in his characteristic dashing run, located Boniface’s head in the 24^th minute, but the Germany-based forward headed away from goal. Iheanacho, on to a good lift from Simon, saw his shot saved by Ntwari with minutes left in the first half.

In the 50^th minute, Boniface’s header from Simon’s corner kick was punched away. Three minutes after Chukwueze’s goal, Nigeria broke forward again, only for substitute Onyeka’s pass to drift past Fisayo Dele-Bashiru at the crucial moment.

Boniface again missed a glorious opportunity in the 68^th minute, after an excellent touch from Chukwueze and pass from Dele-Bashiru, and four minutes later, Rwanda were level when substitute Marie Gueulette headed past Maduka Okoye as Nigeria’s defenders ball-watched from a free-kick on the right.

As the Eagles continued their casual game, the Amavubi sighted an opportunity to make history, and went for blood. Three minutes after the equalizer, they were back to raid the Nigeria defence again and profited when they got the ball past Okoye for their second and winning goal.

The victory however turned out to be sweet-sour, as the Amavubi found out they did not qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations following Benin Republic’s 0-0 draw with Libya in North Africa.

Ademola Lookman, who was injured in the match against Benin Republic in Abidjan on Thursday and was not part of Monday’s encounter, provided only the cheering news of the evening after he was nominated among five candidates for this year’s Africa Player of the Year award taking place in Morocco on 16^th December.

Moroccan Achraf Hakimi, Ivorian Simon Adingra, Guinean Serhou Guirassy and South African goalkeeper Ronwen Williams are the other nominees.

Author: NFF Media