2026 WCQ: Ekong Dropped As Eric Chelle Picks Super Eagles' Starting 11 vs Rwanda
- Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has announced the starting 11 for the match against Rwanda
- Nigeria face must-win match against Amavubi to keep their 2026 FIFA World Cup hopes alive
- The pressure increased after South Africa and Rwanda beat Lesotho and Zimbabwe on Friday
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Eric Chelle has announced the starting lineup for the crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier match against Amavubi of Rwanda at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium.
Nigeria's task became more difficult heading into the matchday after South Africa beat Lesotho 3-0 and Benin Republic beat Zimbabwe 1-0 in the other group games.
Source: Twitter
Nigeria remain in fourth place in Group C, a point behind today's opponent, Rwanda, while Benin Republic have 11 points and the Bafana Bafana have 16 points.
FIFA are unlikely to dock South Africa three points for fielding the ineligible Teboho Mokoena, as there has been no information available before matchday seven began.
A victory against Rwanda and South Africa is non-negotiable to help the Super Eagles close the nine-point gap with the leaders to three points, heading into the final two games.
Eric Chelle names starting 11
As seen in a post on Super Eagles’ official X account, Chelle named his starting 11 to face the Amavubi in a must-win match in Uyo.
Stanley Nwabali starts in goal after overcoming the injury scare suffered during Chippa United's 1-0 loss against Richards Bay on August 26, 2025.
Victor Osimhen, who scored two goals in the reverse fixture at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, leads the attack and will hope to replicate that performance.
In a surprising move, Chelle dropped Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong from the starting lineup, with Brentford star Benjamin Frederick preferred over him.
Ekong was blamed for the lapse in defence, which cost the team a 90th-minute equaliser against Zimbabwe in March at the same stadium.
Source: Getty Images
Besiktas midfielder Wilfred Ndidi captains the side in Ekong’s absence, while Ademola Lookman was unexpectedly named in the starting lineup, despite a lack of action for a while due to the ongoing transfer saga at Atalanta
Full XI
Goalkeeper: Stanley Nwabali.
Defenders: Benjamin Fredrick, Ola Aina, Calvin Bassey, Bruno Onyemaechi.
Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi, Frank Onyeka, Alex Iwobi.
Forwards: Moses Simon, Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman.
Nigeria are no strangers to the Amavubi, facing them three times in the last 12 months in the AFCON 2025 and 2026 World Cup qualifiers, winning twice and drawing once.
Rwanda XI: Fiacre Ntwari, Omborenga Fitina, Mutsinzi Ange, Niyomugabo Claude, Manzi Thierry, Kavita Phanuel Mbaya, Bonheur Mugisha, Bizimana Djihad, Gilbert Mugisha, Hamon, Nshuti Innocent.
6 Super Eagles stars to watch out for
Legit.ng analysed the six Super Eagles stars to watch out for during the crucial World Cup qualifier match against Rwanda at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo.
Goal machine Victor Osimhen will be in the spotlight to help Nigeria in attack, while it is crucial for Stanley Nwabali to shut out the Rwandan attack.
Source: Legit.ng
