Rwanda midfielder Djihad Bizimana has urged his team to get a result as they face the Super Eagles of Nigeria in their final 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on Monday, Afrosport reports.
The Amavubi lost to Libya’s Mediterranean Knights in the previous game which denied them a chance of clinching their place in next year’s finals.
Bizimana however believes that the result will ignite his team to get a victory against the Super Eagles.
“It’s true that we lost our last game at home [to Libya], but we still have some positives to take from it,” he told reporters.
“It was a game we should have won under normal circumstances, but it wasn’t to be. We were so close, yet so far away. All the same, the positives we took from that match will drive us in this game against the Super Eagles, and I believe they will help us secure a good result.”
Bizimana is aware of the quality the Super Eagles carry coupled with the threat they pose but he is motivated that his team can prove a point against them.
“Nigeria have big players, all of them playing in Europe, but that is not enough reason for us not to win,” he added.
Rwanda have not participated in the AFCON since the 2004 edition that was hosted in Tunisia and exited in the group stage.
The Super Eagles meanwhile, have already qualified for their 21st AFCON tournament and top Group D with 11 points, while Benin Republic are second with seven points.
Rwanda, sitting third with five points, will need an upset against Nigeria in Uyo and hope Libya defeat Benin in Benghazi to keep their qualification hopes alive.
