Nigerian football legend Victor Ikpeba has expressed his disappointment following the Super Eagles’ unexpected 2-1 loss to Rwanda in Uyo during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.
The defeat marked Nigeria’s first in the AFCON qualifying series, with goals from Aimable Mutinzi and Imanishimwe Nshuti giving Rwanda a historic victory.
According to The Punch, Nigeria had already secured qualification for AFCON 2025 in Morocco, finishing top of their group with 11 points, three points ahead of second-placed Benin Republic.
Super Eagles coach Augustine Eguavoen opted to rest several key players for the match, making seven changes to the squad that had drawn 1-1 with the Cheetahs in their previous game.
However, the team, led by Bayer Leverkusen’s Victor Boniface and Sevilla’s Kelechi Iheanacho, failed to deliver, prompting criticism from fans and former players alike....Read Full Article [Click Here>]
In response, Ikpeba has called on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to take decisive action and enforce stricter accountability measures on the underperforming players. He stressed the importance of commitment and discipline within the team. As reported by Complete Sports, Ikpeba said, “This was a chance for the other players in the squad to show whether they are good enough to be part of the national team.
Unfortunately, they failed to turn up, they didn’t do well for themselves and the fans. There is therefore a need for new players to be called up so as to create more competition in the team.”
Boniface, Iheanacho, and several other Super Eagles players have faced heavy criticism from fans for their disappointing performance in the match, echoing Ikpeba’s call for improvement.
