Mere Onome Freeborn, a student at the Nigeria Institute for Sports, shared his analysis of the Super Eagles’ crucial 2-0 win over Rwanda and their prospects for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Nigeria’s victory over Rwanda was their first-ever away win against the Wasps, a result Freeborn deemed necessary. “It was expected. Given our previous four games—three draws and one loss—it was clear that we needed this win to stay in contention for qualification,” he explained.
Following Eric Chelle’s appointment as head coach, there was skepticism regarding his ability to turn things around. Freeborn believes the manager understands the task at hand. “He knew what he was stepping into. There’s no room for politics; he just has to deliver what Nigerians expect from the team,” he said.
Victor Osimhen’s brace reinforced his reputation as one of Africa’s top strikers. Freeborn is confident in his ability to maintain consistency. “Osimhen is still young. His performances at the club level speak for themselves, and we expect him to keep delivering for the Super Eagles,” he stated.
While praising Osimhen and Ademola Lookman for their contributions, Freeborn expressed concerns about some players. “Lookman is an outstanding player, and we know he’ll make an impact in every game. However, Ola Aina and Alex Iwobi haven’t been at their best. It could be fear of injury or concerns about securing a starting spot at their clubs, but they need to give their all, just like the Super Eagles of the past,” he observed.
With Nigeria set to face Zimbabwe next, Freeborn stressed the importance of winning every remaining fixture. “There’s no room for draws at this stage. We’ve already dropped too many points. South Africa leads the group with 10 points, and Nigeria is currently fourth. The only way forward is to win every game and keep our qualification hopes alive,” he emphasized.
Despite the setbacks, Freeborn remains optimistic. “Nigeria is known as the ‘Giant of Africa.’ If we can maintain this momentum, we stand a chance to qualify—whether directly or through the playoffs for the best runners-up,” he concluded.
