Nigeria Bench Osimhen for Final AFCON Qualifier Against Rwanda

Nigeria's senior men's football team has announced its starting lineup for the final match of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign against Rwanda.

The Super Eagles, as the Nigerian national team is known, will rely on Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye in goal after first-choice keeper Stanley Nwabali was unavailable. Coach Austin Eguavoen selected the Italian-based player to start between the posts.

In defence, William Troost-Ekong is expected to lead the backline. The squad also includes Victor Boniface in attack, while star striker Victor Osimhen has been named among the substitutes.

The match represents Nigeria's concluding fixture in the qualification process for the continental championship, scheduled for 2025. A positive result would help secure the team's place in the tournament, which remains a major focus for football across the continent.

Nigeria has a strong football tradition, with the Super Eagles having won the Africa Cup of Nations three times, most recently in 2013. The team regularly qualifies for the tournament and often features prominently in African football discussions.

Qualifying matches for the Africa Cup of Nations typically draw significant domestic attention in Nigeria, where football serves as a major unifying force. The squad selection reflects the depth of talent available to the national team, drawn from players competing in European leagues.

The game against Rwanda is part of broader efforts across Africa to determine which 24 nations will compete in the 2025 edition of the tournament. Rwanda, like Nigeria, has been competing in a group stage format designed to identify the strongest performers.

Coach Eguavoen's decisions will be closely watched by fans and analysts alike, as the final rounds of qualification often prove decisive for teams aiming to reach the finals.

Based on reporting by Vanguard Nigeria.