'You could see the difference' - Rwanda boss admits his forwards not on the same level as Osimhen, Lookman

Speaking at the post-match press conference after his side's entertaining goalless draw against Nigeria, Rwanda manager Torsten Frank Spittler pointed out that his forwards are not on the same level as the Super Eagles frontline. 

For the matchday two 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixture at the Stade Amahoro in Kigali on Tuesday afternoon, Super Eagles caretaker manager Augustine Eguavoen went with the same front three as he did against Republic of Benin.

Bundesliga winner Victor Boniface led the line and was supported by 2024 Ballon d'Or nominee Ademola Lookman and AC Milan dazzler Samuel Chukwueze. 

Reigning African Footballer of the Year, Victor Osimhen and Nantes winger Moses Simon entered the fray at halftime in place of Boniface and Chukwueze respectively. 

The Super Eagles created so many chances during the game but Rwanda were rescued by the heroics of goalkeeper Fiacre Ntwari, who made several crucial saves, and some desperate defending. 

Atalanta star Lookman saw one of his efforts cleared off the line and another was controversially disallowed, while Bayer Leverkusen forward Boniface was unlucky not to open his international account with his shot coming off the woodwork.

"I'm very happy not only because of the result but also the way we played. It's always important that you make a good match, and then I said normally the results will come," Torsten Frank Spittler told reporters. 

"Everybody could see this Nigerian team, especially the forward line is world-class, and we also had a few chances where you could see the difference between our strikers and their strikers.

"It was a good match from our side against a very strong team with a lot of confidence coming from their 3-0 home win, so I'm very happy with the result but also the way we played."

Nigeria kicked off their Group D campaign with three goals, highlighted by their two marquee forwards getting their names on the scoresheet. 

Ademola Lookman scored a stunning brace and Victor Osimhen came of the bench to score a sensational acrobatic goal.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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