Super Eagles player ratings: Osimhen clinical; Lookman talisman; Nwabali dark arts; Bassey, Ndidi shine

Nigeria secured her first victory of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers campaign with a 2-0 victory on Friday evening at the Amahoro stadium in Kigali.

Allnigeriasoccer.com runs the rule over the Super Eagles players in action.

The starters

Goalkeeper

Stanley Nwabali: The Super Eagles goalkeeper had little to do for most of the game, as Rwanda struggled to pose any real threat to Nigeria’s defense. However, the Chippa United shot-stopper repeatedly employed time-wasting tactics to relieve pressure on the Super Eagles players. 7/10

Defenders

Bright Osayi-Samuel: The Fenerbahçe fullback was deployed in his natural position and tasked with patrolling the flanks, as Samuel Chukwueze operated in an inverted midfield role. The former QPR defender delivered an impressive defensive performance while also contributing decently in attack. Unfortunately, he sustained an injury and had to be substituted in the second half. 7/10

William Troost-Ekong: The Super Eagles captain delivered a solid performance at the heart of the defense, effectively handling nearly every aerial ball that came his way. The former Watford defender also made his presence felt in attack during corners and set-pieces, aggressively challenging for in-swinging crosses but failing to find the target. 7/10

Calvin Bassey: The Fulham defender put in a rock-solid performance alongside William Troost-Ekong, forming a formidable defensive partnership. Bassey was highly effective in winning back possession and nullifying the threat of Hakim Sahabo throughout his time on the pitch. 8/10

Ola Aina: The Nottingham Forest defender delivered a decent performance but fell below his usual standards.

Deployed on the left side of the attack, he struggled to make an impact offensively and had some lapses defensively. He was eventually substituted in the second half. 6/10

Midfielders

Wilfred Ndidi: The Leicester City midfielder delivered another solid and brilliant performance at the base of Nigeria’s midfield, providing excellent defensive cover. Despite picking up a yellow card for an unintentional challenge on Djihad Bizimana, Ndidi remained a dominant force in midfield throughout the game. 8/10

Alex Iwobi: The Fulham midfielder put in a solid shift, helping Nigeria control possession and adding creativity to the attack. He also played his part defensively, contributing to the high press and disrupting the opposition’s build-up. 7/10

Forwards

Samuel Chukwueze: The AC Milan winger was a surprise inclusion in Peseiro’s lineup due to his club form. Despite being deployed in an unfamiliar role, Chukwueze put in a decent performance, contributing to Nigeria’s creativity in attack. 6/10

Moses Simon: The Nantes winger, deployed as an inverted winger drifting into midfield, posed a constant threat to the Amavubi defense with his movement and link-up play with Lookman. 6.5/10

Ademola Lookman: The Atalanta forward wasn’t at his absolute best but remained a constant threat to the Rwandan defense. Playing just behind Osimhen, the 27-year-old provided creative support in midfield and kept the opposition on edge. He was also instrumental in the attack, delivering precise crosses, including the one that led to Osimhen’s opener in the first half. 8.5/10

Victor Osimhen: The Napoli striker was decisive, netting a brace to secure Nigeria’s victory at the Amahoro Stadium. He remained a constant menace to the Rwandan defenders, keeping them on edge with his movement and attacking presence before being substituted in the second half. 9/10

The substitutes

Tolu Arokodare: The Genk forward made his Nigeria debut with 13 minutes left, replacing Victor Osimhen. Despite limited time to impress, he showed glimpses of his quality by helping Nigeria retain possession, winning aerial duels, and displaying excellent hold-up play to maintain control in the closing stages. 5/10

Alhassan Yusuf: Yusuf came on for Bright Osayi-Samuel in the second half and was deployed at full-back. Although playing out of position, he delivered a composed and stable performance during his time on the pitch. 5/10

Bruno Onyemaechi: Onyemaechi replaced Ola Aina on the left side, adding more attacking intent while also bringing greater defensive stability. 6/10

Raphael Onyedika: Onyedika came on for Samuel Chukwueze in the second half, slotting into the base of midfield to help Nigeria maintain control. His introduction provided better stability, easing the defensive burden on Wilfred Ndidi. 5.5/10

Adeyemi Adewale

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