Rwanda coach Torsten Spittler praises team’s resilience after 0-0 draw against Nigeria

Rwanda head coach Torsten Spittler expressed his satisfaction following his team’s hard-fought 0-0 draw against Nigeria in their AFCON 2025 qualifier.

The Amavubi stood firm to hold the three-time African champions at the Amahoro National Stadium in Kigali on Tuesday, September 10.

The Super Eagles, fresh from a 3-0 victory over Benin Republic, were eager to extend their lead at the top of Group D. With previous goals from Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen, Nigeria came into the match confident but struggled to break down Rwanda’s resolute defense throughout the encounter.

Ademola Lookman thought he had given Nigeria the lead in the 22nd minute, but his goal was disallowed following a foul by Victor Boniface in the buildup. Despite creating several chances, including opportunities for Lookman and Boniface, Nigeria failed to convert.

The Super Eagles dominated possession, with head coach Austin Eguavoen introducing key players Osimhen and Moses Simon early in the second half to bolster their attack. However, Rwanda’s defense held strong, frustrating the visitors’ efforts.

The result extended Rwanda’s impressive unbeaten run to seven games under the guidance of Spittler. The German coach was delighted with his team’s performance against one of Africa’s top sides.

“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 normally the results will come,” Spittler said after the game. He also praised Nigeria’s attacking quality, noting, “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.”

With the draw, Rwanda now have two points from their opening two games in Group D, while Nigeria lead the group with four points.