World Cup
Rwanda newspaper psyches up new coach, Amrouche ahead of World Cup qualifier with Nigeria
Leading Rwandan newspaper, The New Times has enumerated the challenges and promises that the country’s new coach, Adel Amrouche faces ahead of the impending World Cup qualifying duel with Nigeria in Kigali.
The newspaper writes:
Adel Amrouche, the newly appointed head coach of Rwanda’s national football team, steps into a role laden with both promises and challenges.
Amrouche, 56, brings extensive coaching experience, having previously managed national teams across Africa, including Libya, Equatorial Guinea, Botswana, Kenya, Burundi and Tanzania.
However, his task is far from simple—Rwanda’s national team has long been stuck in mediocrity, with little success on the continental stage.
Yet, this is also a time of opportunity, as Amrouche is tasked with building a competitive squad to elevate Rwanda’s football status and perhaps make a historical breakthrough in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
His immediate focus will be preparing the Amavubi for their upcoming World Cup qualifying matches against Nigeria (March 17) and Lesotho (March 24) at Amahoro Stadium.
These games are crucial for Rwanda’s qualification hopes and will test Amrouche’s ability to get the best out of a team that, although currently leading its World Cup qualification group, has struggled historically in international competitions.
The Amavubi face a daunting task of overcoming heavyweights like Nigeria and South Africa in their group.
But the 56-year-old, with his vast experience across African football, probably understands the challenges of managing in a high-pressure environment.
He knows that with little time to implement his tactics before these key matches, he will have to rely on the groundwork laid by his predecessor, Torsten Spittler.
Amrouche’s ability to adapt quickly and build on this platform will be critical. Failure to do that, and he also become a statistic before the end of his two-year contract.
Limited resources and high expectations:
One of the key challenges that Amrouche will face is Rwanda’s limited resources, both on and off the pitch.
Unlike powerhouses such as Nigeria, South Africa, Morocco, Egypt, or even Amrouche’s native Algeria, Rwanda’s football infrastructure and financial backing are not on the same level.
The team’s budget is modest, and they do not have the luxury of world-class facilities or top-tier club competitions to draw talent from.
However, Amrouche is no stranger to working with limited resources. He has led teams with fewer advantages, particularly during his time coaching in countries like Burundi and Yemen.
In Rwanda, he will need to maximize the potential of the players at his disposal and instill a sense of discipline, resilience, and tactical acumen to overcome these limitations.
He will have to make the most out of Rwanda’s home-grown talents, focusing on their development and playing to their strengths.
Rwanda’s limited success on the continental level, including their near-miss at qualifying for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, also adds pressure on the Algiers-born former midfielder.
The team’s only “major” trophy to date, if you may like, was the 1999 CECAFA Senior Challenge, and they have qualified for the AFCON only once in 2004.
This long history of underachievement makes Amrouche’s task even more daunting.
He must not only push the team to compete at a higher level but also instill a sense of belief and unity within a squad that has often faltered in crucial moments.
Political and mental challenge:
Another challenge for Amrouche will be navigating the political and managerial instability within
Rwanda’s football system.
The country has witnessed one of the highest turnover rates of coaches in African football, with a staggering 24 different coaches in the last three decades.
This high turnover rate is indicative of the impatience that plagues Rwandan football and adds to the pressure on the incoming coach to deliver results quickly. Amrouche must therefore tread carefully. He must hit the ground running.
While he has the technical expertise, he must manage expectations within a football culture where stability is often lacking. Appetite for quick-fix is Amavubi’s Achilles’ heel.
His previous experience with the national teams of Libya, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya, and Tanzania shows that he understands how to manage under pressure, but in Rwanda, his ability to foster long-term success will be tested.
In the same breath, FERWAFA must also provide him with the necessary backing to ensure he has the tools to succeed, especially when it comes to the development of players and infrastructure.
Patience is the path to success:
For Amrouche, the long-term goal is clear—he must qualify Rwanda for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and help the Amavubi reach new heights in African football.
To achieve this, he will need to prioritize the development of a strong team chemistry, tactical discipline, and mental fortitude.
His role is not just about game strategies but also about fostering a culture of professionalism and unity within the squad. Spittler succeeded in this areas, and so his successor must.
One of Amrouche’s key strengths will be his ability to scout talent and give younger players a chance to shine. Rwanda has a growing pool of young talent, and Amrouche must build a team that blends experience with youthful energy.
If he can successfully identify and nurture talent, he will lay the foundation for long-term success. Short-term success is needed, and indeed most welcome but the ultimate goal should be on the future.
Amrouche’s appointment marks the beginning of a new era for Rwanda’s national team. His success will depend on how he navigates the challenges of limited resources, Rwandan football political instability, and high expectations.
If he can strike the right balance and foster a sense of unity within the team, and be able to build on the foundation left by Spittler, Amrouche may finally deliver the success that Rwandan football fans have long yearned for.
It’s possible but only time will tell.
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BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles have suffered a major setback ahead of their decisive 2026 World Cup qualifier against Group C leaders Benin Republic on Tuesday in Uyo, as star forward Ademola Lookman will miss the encounter due to suspension.
Lookman, one of Nigeria’s standout performers in the qualifiers so far, picked up a second yellow card of the campaign during Friday’s 2–1 win over Lesotho in Polokwane, South Africa. The booking automatically rules him out of the must-win tie against Benin.
The incident occurred in the 64th minute when Lookman, after being harshly tackled in midfield by a Lesotho defender, reacted by body-checking his opponent. Chadian referee Alhadi Allaou Mahamat deemed the action as retaliation and promptly issued a yellow card.
It was Lookman’s second caution of the qualifying series, the first coming in the 18th minute of last month’s away match against South Africa. The cumulative bookings have now triggered an automatic one-match suspension.
Lookman’s absence is a huge blow for Nigeria, who must defeat Benin to keep their World Cup qualification hopes alive.
The Atalanta forward has been instrumental in recent matches, contributing pace, creativity, and attacking spark to the Super Eagles’ frontline.
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It’s down to the wire in Group C of the CAF 2026 World Cup qualifiers as no clear leader has emerged after a dramatic Match Day 9 on Friday.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Lesotho in Polokwane, South Africa, while Benin Republic maintained their grip on top spot with a crucial 1-0 away win against Rwanda, thus still leading Nigeria by three points.
The margin with South Africa is however reduced to one following Bafana Bafana’s 0-0 duel with Zimbabwe.
The results mean Benin now need just a draw in their final group match against Nigeria on Tuesday to seal their first-ever World Cup qualification.
For Nigeria, the path is narrower: they must beat Benin in Uyo and hope that Rwanda either defeat or hold South Africa to a draw away in Johannesburg to stand a chance of progressing.
Friday’s matches, all played simultaneously, were cagey affairs with all three fixtures goalless at halftime.
The Super Eagles eventually broke the deadlock in the 55th minute when captain William Troost-Ekong confidently converted a penalty.
Eight minutes later, Akor Adams doubled Nigeria’s lead with a smart finish, seemingly putting the game beyond reach.
However, defensive frailties resurfaced late in the game, allowing Hlompho Kalake to capitalize on a mix-up in the Nigerian backline and reduce the deficit for Lesotho in the 83rd minute. Despite late pressure, Nigeria held on for all three points to keep their qualification hopes alive.
In the other Group C fixture, South Africa, who had started the day on top, stumbled with a frustrating goalless draw against Zimbabwe in Durban — a result that further opened the group.
With just one round of matches left, Group C remains delicately poised: Benin lead with 17 points, South Africa follow with 15 and Nigeria trail with 14.
It is now a three-horse race with Benin, South Africa and Nigeria still mathematically in contention.
The final round promises a thrilling climax as three nations jostle for one prized World Cup ticket.
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BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
Nigeria’s hopes of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have received a significant lift following the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) decision to revise the criteria for determining the four best runners-up in the African qualifiers.
But in the end, it may boil down to the use of calculators to determine number of goals and points to be deducted from the runners-up in eight of the nine World Cup qualifying groups.
Only Niger’s position in Group E will remain constant as Eritrea’s withdrawal prompts recalibration of “best runners-up” ranking system.
The change, prompted by Eritrea’s withdrawal from Group E of the qualifiers, has forced CAF and FIFA to adjust the ranking formula to ensure fairness across all nine qualifying groups. Eritrea’s exit left Group E with only five teams instead of six, creating an imbalance in the points system.
In a circular dated March 14, 2025, signed by CAF Director of Tournaments and Events, Samson Adamu, CAF explained that results against the lowest-ranked or withdrawn teams in each group will no longer count when comparing second-placed teams.
The rule, drawn from Article 11.5 of the FIFA World Cup 2026 preliminary competition regulations, aims to standardize the evaluation process across all groups.
“Whenever a group has fewer than five teams due to withdrawal or disqualification, results against the lowest-ranked or withdrawn teams will not be considered when determining the best runners-up,” the circular stated.
The new regulation could reshape the qualification standings. According to early projections, several teams currently in contention — such as Burkina Faso, DR Congo, Madagascar, and Gabon — could each lose up to six points once results against bottom-placed teams are excluded. Meanwhile, Cameroon may lose four points, but Nigeria could benefit substantially, potentially climbing higher in the overall runners-up table. But they have to win their remaining two matches to be in contention for the group leadership or the secondary qualifying series of play-off.
Why the Rule Favours Nigeria
Nigeria currently sit outside the top spot in their qualifying group but remain in contention for one of the playoff positions reserved for the best four runners-up.
The Super Eagles have drawn both their matches against Zimbabwe, who presently occupy the bottom of Group C. In essence, the last minute goal conceded in Uyo last March could be blessing in disguise.
Under the new rule, those two draws — worth two points — would be removed from Nigeria’s total if Zimbabwe remain bottom. However, while Nigeria would lose only two points, many rival second-placed teams could lose between four and six points, giving the Super Eagles a relative advantage.
In practical terms, this adjustment means that if Nigeria finish second behind South Africa or Benin, their overall points tally could still place them among the top four second-placed teams — especially if they secure maximum points from their remaining fixtures against Lesotho and Benin Republic.
Analysis: CAF’s Balancing Act and Nigeria’s Renewed Hope
CAF’s decision reflects an attempt to maintain competitive integrity after Eritrea’s withdrawal disrupted the symmetry of the qualification groups.
By nullifying results against the lowest-ranked teams, the governing body ensures all second-placed nations are compared on a level playing field — based on equal numbers of matches and similar competitive balance.
For Nigeria, this adjustment offers a mathematical lifeline. The Super Eagles’ path to automatic qualification — by topping their group — remains the primary goal. But should they fall short, this rule revision provides a crucial backup route to the playoffs.
The timing of the rule change is also significant. With only a few matches left in the campaign, Nigeria’s qualification fate could hinge not only on their performance but also on how other second-placed teams are recalculated under the new system.
It also serves as a reminder of the fine margins in World Cup qualifying — where even administrative revisions can alter a nation’s destiny.
What Lies Ahead
Nigeria face Lesotho in Polokwane and Benin in Uyo in their upcoming fixtures, knowing that six points could transform their campaign. Head coach Eric Chelle will be urging his players to treat every match as a final, given the complex permutations now in play.
With the CAF revision effectively narrowing the gap between groups, Nigeria’s fate is once again in their hands — a rare turn of fortune after a turbulent qualifying run.
In a qualification series marked by unpredictability, this rule change might just be the break the Super Eagles need to return to the global stage after missing the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
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