-Deborah Akinyosoye
Nigeria and Rwanda have both arrived in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, ahead of Monday’s 2025 AFCON final day qualifying Group D match at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, NigeriaTodayTimes reports.
The Super Eagles, who forced Benin Republic to a 1-1 draw in Abidjan on Thursday to seal the top spot in the group, landed at the Obong Victor Attah International Airport at 3:50pm aboard a chartered ValueJet aircraft on Friday, while the Amavubi arrived at 5pm via an Ibom Air flight from Lagos after their initial Rwandair flight from Kigali.
The Amavubi still have a mathematical chance of qualifying despite their 1-0 home defeat to Libya on Thursday, but must beat Nigeria and hope Libya defeat Benin Republic in Tripoli to stand any chance of reaching Morocco 2025.
Nigeria, who secured qualification after Libya’s win over Rwanda in Kigali, have 11 points from five matches, while Benin Republic (seven points), Rwanda (five points), and Libya (four points) battle for the group’s second ticket.
The Eagles will play a more relaxed game, having already qualified, unlike their turgid encounter against the Cheetahs, where Victor Osimhen’s 81st-minute header cancelled out Mohamed Tijani’s first-half opener to share the spoils.
Both teams played out a goalless draw in their first meeting in Kigali last September, though Nigeria had Ademola Lookman’s header controversially ruled out by the Moroccan referee.
Coincidentally, another Moroccan, a 44-year-old Samir Guezzaz, will officiate Monday’s clash alongside his compatriots Zakaria Brinsi, Abdessamad Abertoune, and Kech Chaf Mustapha.
The match officials, along with Commissioner Prosper Harrison Addo from Ghana and Somalian referee assessor Ali Mohamed Ahmed, are expected to arrive on Saturday for the 5 p.m. kickoff.
A carnival atmosphere is expected at the magnificent Nest of Champions as the Eagles celebrate their qualification with their supporters.