Nigeria was in control from the beginning, but the game took a sharp turn when Osimhen was hurt in the first minute and needed emergency care. Nigeria persisted despite the setback, and Ademola Lookman had a chance to shoot in the fifth minute but was denied the ball, giving the opposition a free kick.
Moses Simon was fouled just outside the box in the tenth minute, and Nigeria was given a free kick. After suffering an early injury, Osimhen showed perseverance by scoring his 24th goal in 40 games after Lookman stepped up to take it.
The pressure was increased in the 12th minute when Ange Mutzinsi almost gave away a dangerous cross from Osimhen. Nigeria persisted in their attack, and Ekong missed a fantastic opportunity to score from a corner kick in the fourteenth minute after heading the ball high. Ola Aina was fouled by the physical Rwandan team a minute later, and another free kick was given. Once more, Ekong had a chance but headed wide.
A cooling-off period in the sixteenth minute gave both teams a chance to regroup. When play resumed, the Rwandan goalkeeper made a spectacular save in the 23rd minute to deny Simon. Osimhen missed the resulting corner kick with his head. Moses’ cross was turned out for a corner in the twenty-eighth minute.
Gilbert Mugisha, who was substituted for Samuel Gueulette in the 37th minute, immediately put Nigerian goalkeeper Nwabali to the test with a long-range effort. Soon after, Lookman and Osimhen made a stunning combination in the box, but Lookman missed another scoring chance when the ball slipped away from him.
Aina gave Rwanda a rare opportunity in the 43rd minute when he failed to communicate with his teammates and gave up a corner kick. The Rwandans made some progress in the first half, which was extended by three minutes.
Osimhen scored once more, this time on a breakaway, shortly before halftime. He completed a strong first half for his team by scoring Nigeria’s second goal with a delightful chip over the goalie.
Restoring Amavubi pride in front of President Paul Kagame’s home crowd was the main focus of the second half.
Nigeria persisted in claiming supremacy. After Osimhen was fouled in the 46th minute, Djihad Bizimana, the captain of Rwanda, was given a yellow card for the challenge and Nigeria was awarded a free kick. Simon then tried a shot from the box’s edge in the 47th minute, but it missed the mark and went wide.
As the match became more physical, Ndidi was given a yellow card for fouling Rwanda’s number four in the 49th minute. Nigeria continued toadvance, and in the 50th minute, Bright Osayi-Samuel attempted toscore but the goalie saved his shot, leading to
In order to bolster his midfield, Coach Eric Chelle substituted Bruno Onyemaechi and Raphael Onyedika for Ola Aina and Samuel Chukwueze in the 58th minute. After Osayi-Samuel ran, Osimhen blasted over, but advantage played in the 75th minute. Osimhen was replaced in the 78th minute by Tolu Arokodare, who made his debut. Osayi-Samuel was also replaced by Alhassan Yusuf.
Nigeria attempted to control the action by holding the ball, but Rwanda persisted in pushing forward. The Eagles put up a strong defense to earn all three points and a clean sheet even after five more minutes were added.
In an attempt to move up to the top of Group C, the Eagles will travel to Uyo on Tuesday, where Nigeria will host Zimbabwe.
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