Following the Super Eagles’ 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixtures against the Cheetahs of Benin Republic and the Amavubi of Rwanda, Completesports.com’s ADEBOYE AMOSU discusses the major talking points from the two games…
1. Eguavoen Still Has the Technical Expertise
Drafted in to take charge of the Super Eagles following the failure of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to appoint a substantive Head Coach, the former defender proved he still has “the technical chops” to coach at the highest level.
The Super Eagles played with purpose against the Cheetahs and Amavubi. The three-time African champions also displayed the smooth attacking football the team is known for in both games.
Four points, three goals, two clean sheets, and top of the group after two games in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers is not a bad result for the caretaker coach.
2. Lookman Delivered Again
The Atalanta winger underlined his status as one of the Super Eagles’ key stars with a superb display against the Cheetahs and Amavubi.
Aside from his two goals and assist against Benin Republic, he tormented the opposition’s defence with his pace and dribbling runs.
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The 26-year-old was also the star of the show in the Super Eagles’ 0-0 draw with Rwanda. He even had a goal controversially ruled out for a foul by the Egyptian centre referee in the second game.
3. Troost-Ekong Showed He’s Truly a Leader
The Al-Khalood of Saudi Arabia defender’s absence was felt in Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against South Africa and Benin Republic in June.
The 31-year-old showed his leadership traits, especially in defence, with the Super Eagles keeping two clean sheets.
The duo of Semi Ajayi and Calvin Bassey looked more confident with him at the heart of the team’s defence.
4. Boniface Failed to Replicate Club Form for Super Eagles
Victor Boniface once again failed to show he has what it takes to be a regular starter for the Super Eagles. The forward was handed a starting shirt in both games but failed to recreate his club form on the international stage.
Aside from an impressive moment in Kigali when he turned a defender inside the box and unleashed a powerful shot that crashed off the crossbar, he did little to stake his claim for a regular starting berth.
He would surely drop down the pecking order once Victor Osimhen and Taiwo Awoniyi are fully fit.
5. Onyemaechi Stakes Claim for Left-Back Position
The Boavista defender has played second fiddle to Zaidu Sanusi and Jamilu Collins since his arrival on the international scene. The 25-year-old failed to make an appearance for the Super Eagles at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
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Even when Sanusi was injured, Ola Aina was moved to the left-back position. However, Onyemaechi showed he has what it takes to thrive in that position with his exemplary displays against Benin Republic and Rwanda.
6. Super Eagles Wasteful Again
Although the Super Eagles scored three goals against Benin Republic, it really should have been more. In Kigali, they wasted a number of clear-cut chances, earning a point instead of three, which their performance actually deserved.
The team had nine shots on goal, further showing their dominance.
The West Africans also had a similar issue at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, where they created opportunities but failed to put them away.
During Finidi George’s short reign in charge of the team, they were also wasteful in front of goal.
7. Osimhen Is the Real Deal
The talismanic forward only arrived in camp two days before the Super Eagles’ clash with the Cheetahs. The Galatasaray new signing scored Nigeria’s second goal six minutes after replacing Boniface.
The 25-year-old also put up a good performance after replacing Boniface after the break against Rwanda.
9 Comments
Another real deal CS failed to mention is Fisayo-Dele Bashiru. He was terrific especially in the game against Rwanda, astute in his defensive role as well as fast, swift creative midfield role- linking defense to attack and as he proved in the SA World cup qualifier game in Uyo can strike ferocious shots to score goals from tight areas- unlike Iwobi in those roles
I recommend veteran coach Eguavoen to instruct Super Eagles forwords especially Lookman and Boniface to have eagle’s eye in the rival goal and how to score goals and how to grab these opportunities, also the coach should instruct them to grant each other through passes to score more goals , this plan will allow them to win the matches with many goals…
Aha CSN….How can Osimhen that is not that good (according to one mad man in christmas clothes) be the real deal…LMAOoo.
Have you guys joined the likes of Ancelotti, Capello and Mourinho in eulogizing a below average striker that contributes a paltry 1 goal in every 1.5 games for both club and country….?!
A useless player that didn’t see 1 minute of action through out preseason but scored within 6 minutes of coming on for the SE when all other SE strikers have been struggling to score for the SE from open play since February this year…?!
Please CSN stop being stupid and remove point no 7 from your list of observations o…LMAOoo
Hahahahaha. Laff wen tear my belle.
Extra fact from CSN:
“The talismanic forward only arrived in camp two days before the Super Eagles’ clash with the Cheetahs.”
Arrived on Thursday, not Sunday like other strikers in camp. But still scored on Saturday.
…at this point anyone doubting the quality of Osimhen should be ignored as the hater they are. or how else can one describe such personalities?
As much as we tend to be driven by bias or whatever sentiments, we should try to be logical especially when faced with verifiable undeniable facts.
Simply put, Osimhen is QUALITY. As a country, we are lucky to have such.
Yes our midfield needs fresh legs so is the entire team, infact the super eagles needs restructuring if the team has to start scoring goals . If i were the coach i will move Ola Aino to the DM and bring in the boy that played in the midfield for us at the U17 tournament recently in Ghana and they should look for Samuel Kalu , i hope he is not injured to play in our AM. The wingers are part of the problem, Simon and Chukwueze play exactly the same way, they don’t know how to bombard the eighteen with crosses like natural wingers always do. They both like to always run into the eighteen thereby allowing our strikers to be closed down easily. Crosses are meant to catch the opponent’s defence line by surprise , such unexpected crosses create space for attackers to manouvre and score but that is lacking in Super Eagles of today, no thanks to our wingers.
@Frank Smith
You have a point about our wingers bringing in more crosses
But your idea about our midfield scares me like hell.
How come am just seeing this csn.. lmao… anyway the post don take style old small…if I even post now una go delete am. And me my talk dey very raw base on the wafi boy wey I be…
Or abi the wretched idiot dey work for csn… dey earn wretched 20k…dey delete my comments… lmao…
@ Frank Smith
You have a point about our wingers bringing in more crosses
But your idea of our midfield scares me like death