Afconq Rwanda 0 Nigeria 0: Boniface denied by the crossbar; Lookman's goal controversially disallowed

The Super Eagles played out a barren draw with Rwanda on matchday two of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, played at the Amahoro Stadium on Tuesday afternoon.

Austin Eguavoen made just one alteration to the team that started against Benin with Fisayo Dele-Bashiru replacing Alex Iwobi in the midfield.

Two minutes into the game, Ademola Lookman created a good chance for Bruno Onyemaechi, but the left-back miscued his effort.

A few moments later, Wilfred Ndidi got the first shot on target of the game with his long-range effort being saved by Rwanda goalkeeper Fiacre Ntwari.

Bonheur Mugisha threatened the Nigerian goal for the first time when he headed a precise cross just over the crossbar.

Lookman almost opened the scoring in the 14th minute, racing through the Wasps' defence, but Ntwari quickly came off his line to prevent him from scoring.

In the 22nd minute, Lookman headed Semi Ajayi's flicking header into the back of the net, but the referee controversially ruled the goal out for an infringement from Ajayi.

On the half-hour mark, Lookman failed to take advantage of Boniface's clever pass as the Atalanta forward couldn't get his effort on target. 

The Super Eagles missed a golden chance to get the opener when Boniface's shot hit the crossbar, and Lookman shockingly was unable to get the rebound shot into the back of the net with his weaker header. 

Five minutes before the end of the first half, Onyemaechi's header drifted just across the face of goal, courtesy of Ajayi's brilliant cross.

Eguavoen rang some changes at the start of the second half as Moses Simon replaced Chukwueze while Victor Osimhen came in for Boniface.

Ndidi created the first big chance of the second half, pinging a long pass to Simon whose effort was thwarted by the Rwanda shot-stopper.

In the 65th minute, Ola Aina put a cross into the penalty area for Osimhen, but the lanky striker couldn't connect his header cleanly to the pass.

Jojea Kwizera wasted a glorious chance to put the home side ahead when presented with a good opportunity in the penalty area as he blasted his effort far away.

Ntwari came up with a brilliant safe in the 70th minute, denying Lookman's effort to breach his goal to put Nigeria ahead.

In the 73rd minute, Ntwari denied the Super Eagles again when he calmly saved Osimhen's weak effort from Onyemaechi's brilliant pass.

Three minutes before stoppage time, Stanley Nwabali made his first save of the game, keeping out a long-range effort.

A few moments later, Onyemaechi wasted a great opportunity to put the Super Eagles ahead when presented with a good chance by Simon's header.

Ntwari denied Osimhen again in the stoppage time, saving the Galatasaray striker's effort comfortably.

The result put Nigeria still atop Group D, but they could lose their position if Libya beat Benin by more than three goals later today.

Nigeria will next face Libya at home on the next matchday of the 2025 AFCON campaign, while Rwanda will square up against Benin.

Abdulkareem Abdulhamid

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