Former Nigeria internationals Victor Ikpeba and Mutiu Adepoju have expressed disappointment following the Super Eagles’ shock 2-1 defeat to Rwanda in their final 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Uyo on Monday, The PUNCH reports.
The Eagles surrendered a one-goal lead as Rwanda scored twice in three minutes through Aimable Mutinzi and Imanishimwe Nshuti to cancel out Samuel Chukwueze’s 59th-minute opener at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium.
Ikpeba, the 1997 African Footballer of the Year, criticised the players’ performance, despite coach Austin Eguavoen making seven changes to the team that drew with Benin Republic last Thursday.
“I am disappointed with the boys being called upon. I thought the players selected were good enough to pick maximum points against this Rwanda side. I thought they were going to run riot and win,” Ikpeba said.
“The coach made seven changes which is expected because we had already qualified and it was an opportunity given to those players to show they are good enough for the national team. For me personally, I think that the players have not done justice to the national team.
“The fans that have come out in numbers to support them will be disappointed (but) that’s football sometimes, we didn’t see the result coming but I think we should still be positive for now.”
Adepoju, who won the 1994 AFCON with the Eagles alongside Ikpeba, shared similar sentiments about the team’s display.
“It was just very sad. I thought we were going to win by at least two goals, we scored the first goal and I thought the second would come for us and then they equalised and within three minutes, they scored the second and I think that is very bad,” the 53-year-old said.
“This is very disappointing, I never expected Rwanda to defeat us. It is very sad and I will say that the performance of the boys was disappointing.”
Despite the defeat, Nigeria topped Group D with 11 points from six matches, with Benin Republic joining them at next year’s AFCON in Morocco after edging Rwanda on goal difference.
The Amavubi had arrived in Uyo hoping to secure qualification with a win, coupled with Libya defeating Benin Republic, but their victory wasn’t enough as they finished third in the group.