Rwanda’s 1-0 defeat of pointless Equatorial Guinea has made the last match day of the African Nations Championship Group C very competitive. The Super Eagles who beat the initial group leaders, Libya 1-0 on Friday will face the Equatorial Guineans who are already eliminated.

Nigeria will need at least a draw to comfortably cruise into the next round when the Super Eagles face debutants, Equatorial Guinea in Agadir on Tuesday.

But the other match of Rwanda and Libya in Tangiers will be keener. Libya will need a win to survive while Rwanda will be wary of dropping any point that could cause injury to their next round qualification.

Both Nigeria and Rwanda are tied on points and on every parameter.  The last match day will decide on the final classification. The Super Eagles had taken the initial lead when a 79^th minute goal by Sunday Faleye pushed Libya down the ladder.

Both teams fought a fierce and tactical battle on the turf of the Stade Ibn Batouta, but Nigeria, bronze medallists at the 2014 finals in South Africa, created more chances but just could not put them away, as happened against Rwanda in their opening match at the same venue on Monday.

There were very few notable moments in the first half, with both teams tackling each other hard at the vital areas, and the Eagles, who needed a win more having drawn their opener against the Amavubi, showing greater zest.

But the first remarkable moment only came in the 55^th minute, when Faleye, operating from the left wing, sent an inviting cross into the vital area, but Emeka Ogbuh’s header did not trouble Libya’s goal –tender.

Six minutes later, Mustapha Ibrahim came in for the battling but largely ineffective Anthony Okpotu and Ekundayo Ojo also for Ifeanyi Ifeanyi 14 minutes later.

In the 79^th minute, Faleye slammed home from an Osas Okoro’s corner kick, taking the Super Eagles to four points and ahead of the Libyans.

Faleye was good for a brace only three minutes later, as Nigeria broke down the middle, but substitute Ibrahim’s pass was cut out by the Libyan defence.

In the other match of the day, midfielder Thierry Manzi’s glancing header on 66 minutes was enough for Rwanda to secure victory over Equatorial Guinea.

The victory places Amavubi at the top of Group C with Nigeria who earlier edged Libya 1-0 on four points each. Rwanda’s Yannick Mukunzi played in Savio Nshuti who failed to hit the target when he faced the keeper Miguel Eyama after five minutes.

Eyama was again called into action midway through the first half coming out of his line to punch away Eric Rutanga’s left footed in swinger.

Equatorial Guinea’s Pedro Oba missed from close range after Rwanda goalie Eric Ndayishimiye fumbled a set piece to path but he hastily fired over on the half hour mark.

Amavubi started the second half with some neat exchanges in midfield and through the wings.

Midfielder Djihad Bizimana forced a save from Eyama four minutes after the restart collecting a pass out of the area and cuts in to his right before smashing a low drive which the keeper parried to keep the score level.

Pedro Oba caused the Rwandan defence problems and could have put Equatorial Guinea in front but failed to connect to cross when he was unmarked at the back post on 64 minutes.

He was made to pay for his missed opportunity when Manzi glanced in Bizimana’s corner from the left past the helpless Eyama to put the Amavubi in front.

Eyama pulled a magnificent acrobatic save on 83 minutes to deny substitute Muhadjiri Hakizimana from hitting Rwanda’s second.

The defeat knocks out Equatorial Guinea after they went down heavily against Libya in their first outing whiles Rwanda, Nigeria and Libya all have a chance of making the last eight.