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AFCON

For the 3rd time, Rwanda and Nigeria draw in Kigali

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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 21st minute header by Ademola Lookman which found the back of the net had not been chalked off.

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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.

Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

AFCON

Pressure mounts on Libya ahead of Super Eagles clash

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According to Libya’s news outlets, there are palpable fears in the Libya national team which faces successive crises and trying to avoid early elimination from the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying series.

The team which faces the Super Eagles this week has been plagued with players’ absences occasioned by injuries and boycotts.

 The coach recently appointed has revealed the names of players refusing to represent the national team.

In a press conference held on Saturday, Coach Nasser Al-Hadhiri remarked that the absence of several players were due to real injuries.

In that class are Ahmed Al-Tarbi, a defender of Ahli Tripoli; Mohammed Al-Tabbal of Al-Nasr club and Ali Youssef who also suffered the injury while playing with Tunisia’s  Club Africaine.

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AFCON

Libya’s new coach, Al-Hadhir faces difficult time ahead of Super Eagles match

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Libya's Coach Nasser Al-Hadhiri 

If the Libyan national team sticks to plans, the players are expected to have arrived in Nigeria ahead of their Friday’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifying duel in Uyo.

With most players drawn from the domestic league, the national team had daily training sessions in Tripoli under coach Nasser Al-Hadhiri and his assistants Akram Al-Hammami and Abu Bakr Al-Hark.

However, according to media sources in Libya, the team faces injury worries even though the absence of Victor Osimhen in the Nigerian squad is being celebrated.

  Even though it did not mention the injured Libyan players,  Libya Al-Ahrar Channel reports that replacements were found in  Al-Tahadi FC defender, Mohammed Khalil and Al-Nasr midfielder, Abdullah Abdul Rahim as well as Al-Akhdar winger,  Faraj Ghaidhan.  They take the places of the absent regular players.

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AFCON

Remo Stars’ Franck Mawuena gets Togo’s call-up for AFCON

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Franck Mawuena who recently renewed his contract with Remo Stars has received a call-up to the Togolese squad for this week’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match.  He had previously featured in the Belgian League.

He was part of the Remo Stars squad that finished second in the Nigeria Premier league last season. He scored six goals.

Togo will be away to Algeria on Thursday before hosting the reversed fixture on 14 October.

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