Among the capacity crowd that watched the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying duel of Rwanda and Nigeria at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali was President Paul Kagame of Rwanda.

According to local newspaper, New Times, it was his first outing at a local football match in eight years.

The newspaper pointed out that President Kagame last attended a match in 2016 when Rwanda lost 2-1 at home to DR Congo in the African Nations Championship (CHAN) quarter-finals.

He has since not attended any football match in Rwanda amid concerns primarily associated with “corruption and witchcraft that shaped Rwandan football over the last couple of years.”

The newspaper pointed out that Kagame on numerous occasions cited these issues as reasons for stepping back from attending games, calling them “primitive” practices that hinder the sport’s development.

“The reason I stopped watching football games was partly because of corruption and witchcraft in tournaments. I can’t be part of that,” he reportedly said during the 2024 National Dialogue ‘Umushyikirano’ in January.

The head of state had previously raised the same concerns in August 2023, when he slammed officials who spent money on witchcraft rather than investing in their teams’ proper development.

In July 2023, Kagame urged football officials to address issues such as bribery, unprofessionalism, and referee manipulation, warning that if these problems were not resolved, he would weigh in to ensure improvement in various aspects.

Super Eagles and Rwanda’s Amavubi again drew their encounter in Kigali, the third time they will be meeting at the Rwanda capital city. All encounters of both teams in the city have all been drawn.

The first was a 2006 World Cup qualifier when Obafemi Martins salvaged a point for Nigeria after Rwanda’s Jimmy Gatete had shot the hosts ahead early in the second half.

The next time was an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in 2012 and it ended in a goalless draw just like the one of this Tuesday.

The result not withstanding, Nigeria still leads the Group D ahead of tonight’s encounter of Benin Republic and Libya in Abidjan. Only Libya will be able to upstage Nigeria after the MatchDay 2 if they are able to beat Benin by more than three goals.

Perhaps the tale would have been sweeter for the Super Eagles if their 21^st minute header by Ademola Lookman which found the back of the net had not been chalked off.

The team put up spirited efforts, but the Rwandans have their goalkeeper, Fiarce Ntiwari to thank as he saved many point blank shots and headers by menacing Nigerian forwards.

 The Super Eagles still have unfinished jobs with the Rwandans. Apart from the return match of the on-going Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers holding on 19 November this year, both teams still have two outstanding World Cup qualifiers in Kigali on 17 March next year and in Nigeria on 1 September 2025.

  Nigeria’s next AFCON qualifier will be an home game against Libya on Monday October 7.

Nigeria’s interim coach, Austin Eguavoen has a mission to accomplish this Tuesday afternoon in Kigali. “I am here for all the available three points”, he told a pre-match press conference on Monday.

“This is my third time here; the first time I came as an assistant coach to Christian Chukwu.”

At the match, Nigeria came from a goal down to draw 1-1 in a World Cup 2006 qualifiers.

“I respect Rwanda very much and they also respect us. It will be a great game but our objective is to win the game.

“I will commend Rwanda for the great reception we have received. We are on a mission and we hope to achieve our target.”

Rwanda drew 1-1 with Libya in Tripoli on match day 1 while Nigeria also thrashed neighbors Benin 3-0 at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo to go on top of the Group D.

A win for the Super Eagles will see them move top of the group with six points after two match days.