Former Nigeria international Victor Ikpeba has expressed shock over the Super Eagles 2-1 defeat to Rwanda in their final AFCON 2025 qualifying match.
Nigeria had booked qualification for the showpiece event in their previous game against the Republic of Benin and were expected to defeat their lowly ranked opponents.
Samuel Chukwueze’s first international goal in over a year gave the Super Eagles the lead before they conceded two goals in three second half minutes to suffer a disappointing loss at the Godswill Akpabio stadium.
“I am disappointed with the result and the performance of the team,” Ikpeba said.
“This was a chance for the other players in the squad to show whether they are good enough to be part of the national team.”
The victory was Rwanda’s first ever over Nigeria. It was also the first time the Super Eagles lost in this year’s qualifying and the Nigeria legend who featured for his country between 1992 and 2002 expressed his disappointment in the performance of the players.
Ikpeba also blasted the players who were involved for their lackluster performance and believes they are expected to do more when representing the country.
“Unfortunately, they failed to turn up, they didn’t do well for themselves and the fans.
“There is therefore a need for new players to be called up so as to create more competition in the team”, he continued.
Olakitan is a young writer with a strong passion for sports, having gained experience with IndyPress and Nimelssa Press. His enthusiasm for sports inspired him to cover events both within his school and beyond. With a deep understanding of the game and a refined skillset, he brings sports coverage to a broad, global audience in a way that’s engaging and accessible.
