Nigerians have taken to social media to voice their frustration after the Super Eagles suffered a 2-1 defeat against Rwanda’s Amavubi in their final match of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.
The unexpected result came on Monday evening at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, leaving fans and critics questioning the team’s preparedness for the tournament.
Despite topping their group with 11 points and securing AFCON qualification on goal difference, the Super Eagles’ performance left much to be desired. The game started with a lackluster first half in which the team registered only one attempt on goal. Coach Augustine Eguavoen’s decision to bench key players like Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Alex Iwobi, and Wilfred Ndidi sparked further criticism.
Samuel Chukwueze’s second-half goal in the 60th minute brought temporary relief to Nigerian fans, but Rwanda turned the game around with two quick goals in the 72nd and 75th minutes, courtesy of Aimable Mutinzi and Imanishimwe Nshuti. The result marked a historic win for Rwanda and another disappointing outing for Nigeria following a 1-1 draw against Benin Republic days earlier.
Popular activist and social commentator, Martins Ortse, better known as VeryDarkMan, expressed his dissatisfaction with the team’s performance. On Instagram, he wrote:
“Let’s call a spade a spade. Super Eagles win games by mere luck. No be say na curse, but this Super Eagles can’t win us any trophies.”
In an accompanying video, VeryDarkMan criticized the players for performing better for their clubs than for their country, stating that losing to a team like Rwanda was unacceptable. He argued that such performances diminish fans’ hopes of securing international trophies.
Watch the video below;
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DChbayWsy7y/?igsh=Z3Uzd25udTdubmk4
The loss has reignited debates about the state of Nigerian football, with many calling for urgent reforms to restore the Super Eagles’ former glory as continental giants.
Read other netizens’ reactions to super eagles poor performance against Rwanda below;
Alexander : “I’ve stopped stressing myself about Super Eagles, and I find it funny that you people expect much from a team of sheep without a shepherd. No offence to the players and it’s not their fault. But as long as the team continues to rely on makeshift & cheap employment, they’ll never go far.”
Junior : “Nigeria does not have a team, the Super Eagles squad is just full of players excelling in their different clubs, we need a manager that can make these excellent players a team and make them embrace discipline.we can’t rely on individual brilliance every match, we are not ready.”
Adedamola: “Super Eagles can’t go toe to toe with some African teams like Morocco, Algeria, Egypt and Senegal. Something is not just right about the team.”
Guevera NG : “It’s not about the loss. It’s the ‘anyhowness’. Be honest, when last did you watch Super Eagles and you had confidence we would win the game? The performance is always below par. Like a bunch of talented players without coordination. Football is for me, but not this type.”
