Rwanda vs Nigeria Preview & Prediction | 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifying (CAF)

by Alex Lawes · March 19 2025, 11:34

Updated March 19 2025, 11:47

Rwanda vs Nigeria Preview & Prediction | 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifying (CAF)

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Rwanda have proven themselves to often be awkward and difficult to play against as they now take on a giant of the African continent, Nigeria, who really need to start performing now.

Kick-off date/time: Friday 21st March, 2025: UK – 4:00pm / US ET – 12:00pm / US PT – 9:00am

How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – Not televised

How to watch online: UK – FIFA+ / US – FIFA+

Key Stats

Rwanda won for the first time against Nigeria in Africa Cup of Nations qualifying in November 2024, coming from behind to record a 2-1 success in Nigeria. Overall, the record between these teams is: Rwanda wins – 1, Nigeria wins – 2, draws – 4.
Rwanda have won two of their last three World Cup qualifying matches (L1).
Rwanda kept three clean sheets in their previous four World Cup qualifying matches in the current campaign.
Nigeria are without a win in their last seven World Cup qualifying matches (D6 L1), their longest winless run in World Cup qualifying history.

Rwanda vs Nigeria Prediction

Rwanda begin the fifth match day of CAF’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign sitting at the top of Group C above both South Africa and Benin on goal difference. Nigeria, one of the strongest teams on paper, have failed to win a single of their four games thus far.

Rwanda come into this one on the back of defeating the aforementioned South Africans on away goals in their two-legged second round tie in qualification for the African Nations Championship. Their most recent competitive match in terms of it being recognised by FIFA saw them defeat Nigeria by two goals to one away from home in November.

In that game, the Super Eagles had already qualified in top spot of Group D in CAF’s 2025 CAF Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign with Eric Chelle, formerly of Mali, now in charge after 12 months of uncertainty following the departure of Portuguese coach Jose Peseiro, following reaching the final of the 2023 CAF Africa Cup of Nations in 2024.

Rwanda have proven themselves difficult to beat and have shown themselves a frustrating side for Nigeria to play against so, despite the visitors’ abundance of attackers, it could be a close contest.