You can have one of the probably most potent attacking lines in the history of African football, like the Super Eagles at the moment, and it’s still not enough to avoid a frustrating goalless draw.That’s precisely what we’ve just witnessed in the second round of the 2025 AFCON Qualifiers, as Rwanda and Nigeria shared spoils at Amahoro Stadium in Kigali.After trashing Benin in the opening game, Ademola Lookman, Victor Boniface, Victor Osimhen, Samuel Chukwueze and the rest of the Super Eagles’ star-studded team were confident of another win, but the ball just couldn’t get in past excellent Fiacre Ntwari.Ntwari won Man of the Match against Nigeria 🇳🇬 after keeping a cleansheet for Rwanda 🇷🇼. pic.twitter.com/qJSfhfeYOf— Tshemedi (@RealTshemedi) September 10, 2024 With their potent attacking line, the visitors were quick off the starting brink. Inspired Lookman dribbled past a handful of opponents 15 minutes into the game before Rwanda’s keeper Ntwari stopped his decent shot.Just five minutes later, the Atalanta winger even scored the opener, but it was rightfully voided due to an offside. The same player was again in the heat of the action as he assisted Victor Boniface, who hit the crossbar, and Lookman himself met the rebound, but it stayed 0-0 on the scoreboard.Nigeria had one more promising chance before the break, but Bruno Onyemaechi’s header from the centre of the box went inches wide of the post.We expected to see high-flying Super Eagles after the break, shifting their game into a higher gear, but instead – we were left with a lullaby song. Lots of harmless and useless possessions didn’t affect the game’s flow, let alone create an advantage in terms of goals scored. It was the 73rd minute when we saw the first goal-scoring opportunity as Osimhen failed to convert it from inside the area after a very good low cross from the right.Fulltime: Rwanda 0-0 Nigeria- Super Eagles controlled possession. – Lookman had a lot of chances; hard luck today. Man could have had a hatrick. – Nwabali solid every time he was called upon. – Moses Simon looked impressive after coming on for Chukwueze who was equally… pic.twitter.com/iZJrKPQoWB— E (@iamOkon) September 10, 2024 He was again in the centre of commotion near the final minutes, dropping the ball to Lookman near the penalty spot, but the execution of the latter’s volley wasn’t as good as expected.And then, amid those serious attacks and pressure from the Super Eagles, the hosts responded with a superb effort from Bonheur Mugisha. He launched a sharp, right-footed shot from mid-range, but the Nigerian custodian managed to clear it and prevent the major upset.Five minutes of added time were enough for the favourites to make one last push for the win and they were not that far from it, as Osimhen made one of his trademark headers from inside the area, but it went straight into the keeper’s hands.AFCON QUALIFIERSTuesdayRwanda – Nigeria 0-0Eswatini – Mali 0-1 (0-1)/Bissouma 7/South Sudan – South Africa 2-3 (1-2)/Okello 15 pen, Yuel 57 – Appollis 17, 45+2, Mbatha 90+5/Mozambique – Guinea Bissau 2-1 (1-1)/Guima 5, Elias 71 – Balde 24/19:00: (9.00) Botswana (4.20) Egypt (1.42)19:00: (1.75) Guinea (3.45) Tanzania (5.20)19:00: (2.55) Namibia (3.00) Kenya (3.05)19:00: (1.57) Gabon (3.60) Cental African Republic (7.25)19:00: (8.50) Liberia (4.10) Algeria (1.45)19:00: (5.50) Zimbabwe (3.50) Cameroon (1.70)22:00: (1.65) Zambia (3.50) Sierra Leone (6.00)22:00: (17.0) Chad (7.25) Ivory Coast (1.17)22:00: (2.20) Benin (3.15) Libya (3.60)22:00: (1.67) Cape Verde (3.45) Mauritania (6.00)22:00: (1.58) Burkina Faso (3.70) Malawi (6.75)***odds are subject to change***
