Rwandan defender Ange Mutsinzi credited Nigeria’s hunger and determination for their 2-0 victory in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Victor Osimhen’s brace sealed the win, helping the Super Eagles recover from a poor start. Mutsinzi admitted Nigeria “came strong” and deserved the win. Nigeria now eyes victory against Zimbabwe.
Rwandan defender Ange Mutsinzi has credited Nigeria’s hunger and determination as the key factors behind their 2-0 victory over Rwanda in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Speaking after the match at Amahoro Stadium, Mutsinzi acknowledged the Super Eagles' dominance, particularly in the first half when Victor Osimhen struck twice to seal Nigeria’s first win of the campaign.
“Nigeria came strong, and they wanted to win,” Mutsinzi said. “They deserved it; they have a good team and great strikers. We also have quality, but they were the better side today.”
The Super Eagles entered the match under immense pressure after a poor start to their qualifying campaign, picking up just three points from their first four matches. Determined to get their first win, Nigeria wasted no time asserting control, with Osimhen leading the charge. The Galatasaray forward’s clinical finishing ensured that Rwanda had little chance of mounting a comeback.
Despite the defeat, Rwanda remains hopeful of bouncing back in their next fixture. “We won the last game, and they won this one. Who knows what will happen in the next game?” Mutsinzi added.
For Nigeria, the victory provides much-needed momentum as they prepare for their next game against Zimbabwe. With a win, they could climb to second place in Group C, keeping their World Cup hopes alive. However, head coach Eric Chelle still has work to do, particularly in maximizing the team’s attacking potential against lower-ranked opponents.
