…South Africa beat Lesotho 2-0 While Zimbabwe Forces Benin to 2-2 Draw.
Former African Footballer of the Year, Victor Osimhen against the determination of Rwanda not to allow him get a goal on Friday slotted a brace, that is two goals past hosts Rwandan at the 45,000 capacity stadium at Amahoro, Kigali in a crucial world cup qualifier.
Osimhen got a cross pass from current African Footballer of The Year, Ademola Lookman to beat Rwandan Goaltender in the 12th minute and in the injury time of 45+3rd minute was connected by Samuel Chuwueze for the 2nd goal.
The Osimhen brace on Friday night brings his goals haul to 25 beating former Captain Partick Segun Odegbami’s 23 goals haul and pursing the all-time record holder, gangling Rasheedi Yekini’s 37 goals.
Nigeria missed three other glaring chances in the one sided game and Rwanda collected on a day that the former African Champion’s totality of existence to appear at the next mundial was highly threatened.
Both sides made four changes each with Nigeria pulling out her vital players at the 2nd half. Chukwueze for Onyedika; Ola Aina for Onyemaechi; Bright Osayi-Samuel for Yusuf and in the 77th Victor Osimhen was pulled out for new boy Arokodare.
Nigeria made 3 shots on target and 3 off target with none to Rwanda; Nigeria made 21-12 attacks on Rwanda with 15-0 Dangerous ones and Nigerian earned 8-3 corner kicks one of which was taken by Lookman but headed off target by Osimhen. Captain Ekong also lost a corner kick advantage.
South Africa beat Lesotho at home 2-0 to climb up the group ladder. Yesterday, Zimbabwe forced Benin Republic to a 2-2 draw on their home ground in the same zone.
As at Friday night, South Africa leads group C with 10 points scoring 8 goals and conceding 5; Benin is 2nd with 8 points scoring 6 goals and conceding 5; Defeated Rwanda stands at the 3rd position with 7 points scoring 3 goals and conceding 3; Nigeria follows with 6 points scoring 6 goals and conceding 5; Lesotho is 5th with 5 points scoring 3 goals and conceding 4 while Zimbabwe rocks the bottom with 3 points scoring 4 goals and conceding 8.
Nigeria’s head to head record with Rwanda has not been interesting as six games were played between both countries with each country winning a match and four drawn games.
On 9th June 2005 Rwanda played 1-1 draw at home with Nigeria in the only world cup match between them; In the four AFCON matches played, Rwanda played goalless at home with Nigeria on 29th February 2012 and Nigeria won the return match at Uyo 2-0; two AFCON matches were played in 2024 one on 10th January which was goalless in Kigali and the one on 18th November which Nigeria surprisingly lost at home 1-2. But an CAF match played on 18th January 2018 in Nigeria ended goalless
Rwanda has four outstanding world cup matches ahead with Lesotho on Tuesday 25th March; against Nigeria on 1st September 2025; against Zimbabwe at away on 8th September 2025 and at home against Benin Republic on 6th October 2025.
Nigeria also has four outstanding world cup matches, at Uyo against Zimbabwe on Tuesday 25th March; also at Uyo against Rwanda on 1st September; away against South Africa on 8th September and away against Lesotho on 6th October.
Grab results of past matches in Zone C of the African world cup qualifiers. Rwanda played goalless at home against Zimbabwe on 15t November 2023; Nigeria played 1-1 at home with Lesotho on 16th November 2023; South Africa beat Benin at home 2-1on 18th November 2023; Zimbabwe drew 1-1 with Nigeria on 19th November 2023;
Other past matches played were Lesotho playing draw at home with Benin on 21st November 2023; Rwanda spanked South Africa at home 2-0 on 21st November 2023; Benin beat Rwanda at home 1-0 on 6th June 2024; Zimbabwe lost at home to Lesotho 0-2 on 7th June 2024; Nigeria played 1-1 with South Africa at Uyo on 7th June 2024; Benin piped Nigeria 1-0 at home on 10th June 2024; South Africa smashed Zimbabwe 3-1 at home on 11th June 2024 and Lesotho lost to Rwanda at home by a lone goal on 11th June2024.
Incidentally 22 goals were scored in 12 matches before the matches played on Thursday. Highest scorers were Steve Mournie of Benin Republic and Thapelo Morena of South Africa with two goals each. Osimhen has joined this category now.
Four Nigerians, Semi Ajayi; Fisayo Dele-Bashiru; Kelechi Ihenacho and Raphael Onyedika has a goal each to their credit.
Eniola Olatunji reporting for Patmos Media Line.
#FIFA #CAF #NFF #RFA.
Share your story or advertise with us: Whatsapp: +2347068606071 Email: info@newspotng.com
