Rwanda head coach, Torsten Spittler, expressed mixed emotions after his team secured a shocking 2-1 victory over Nigeria’s Super Eagles in the final round of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers on Monday night.
Despite the monumental win, Rwanda fell short of qualifying for the tournament, set to take place in Morocco in 2025.
Spittler had boldly declared his intentions in the pre-match press conference on Sunday, emphasizing a “victory or nothing” approach to the clash against Nigeria in Uyo.
The Amavubi lived up to their coach’s words, staging an inspiring comeback that silenced the home crowd. Yet, their triumph was bittersweet, as results from other fixtures sealed their fate, leaving them out of the prestigious continental competition.
Speaking to the press after the game, Spittler struck a philosophical tone, combining pride in his team’s achievement with a palpable sense of loss.
“I’m happy because we came, we saw, we conquered. It’s almost seen as an impossibility for any team to beat the Super Eagles, with some of Africa’s best footballers, on their home soil,” Spittler said.
He underscored the David-versus-Goliath nature of Rwanda’s victory, pointing to the vast disparity in FIFA rankings.
“Check the FIFA rankings! The Super Eagles are ranked around 30th, while we, Rwanda, are somewhere in the 160s. That’s a huge gap. Yet, we stood our ground and achieved this feat. It’s a big plus for us, and I’m proud of the players,” he remarked.
However, the coach was visibly emotional when reflecting on Rwanda’s missed opportunity to book their place in Morocco.
“But, on the other hand, I’m deeply saddened. It feels unacceptable that we could beat a team like Nigeria in such a competition and still fail to qualify for the AFCON. We came so close but remained so far away,” Spittler lamented.
Rwanda’s hopes were dashed not by their own performance but by the outcome of a concurrent match in Group D.
A goalless draw between Libya and Benin Republic in Benghazi ensured that the Amavubi couldn’t advance, despite their heroics in Uyo.
Reflecting on the campaign, Spittler acknowledged the pivotal moments that shaped their qualification bid.
“We could have won at home against Libya, and we could just as easily have lost here in Nigeria. Perhaps fate shaped things this way,” he noted. Rwanda’s narrow 1-0 loss to Libya on Matchday 5 proved to be a crucial turning point in their quest for a spot at AFCON.
On Sunday, Spittler revealed his game plan to counter Nigeria’s star-studded attack, emphasizing a disciplined defensive approach.
Rwanda executed this strategy impeccably, deploying two players to neutralize the Super Eagles’ key threats, a tactic that ultimately stymied Nigeria’s forward line.
The Super Eagles opened the scoring early in the second half through substitute Samuel Chukwueze, igniting jubilant celebrations among the home supporters.
However, Rwanda quickly responded. Angel Mutsinzi’s header from a well-delivered free-kick leveled the match, and the Amavubi completed the turnaround 15 minutes from time when Innocent Nshuti finished off a slick move down the left flank.
The result stunned the Uyo crowd and demonstrated Rwanda’s resilience, even against one of Africa’s footballing giants.
Despite the defeat, Nigeria and Benin Republic secured their places in the 2025 AFCON finals, progressing from Group D.
For Rwanda, the victory over Nigeria remains a testament to their growth under Spittler, even as they face the disappointment of missing out on the tournament.
