One of the matchups in the fifth round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers will take place on Friday in Kigali, where the Rwandan national team will host Nigeria. Given the circumstances, betting on goals in this match appears to have a solid chance of success.
Match Preview:
In recent years, the Rwandan national team has not consistently impressed its supporters, but in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, the “Wasps” have finally started to showcase their potential. After four rounds, they sit comfortably at the top of their group, having suffered only one defeat — a 0-1 loss away to Benin.
Rwanda has secured crucial victories, including a 2-0 win over South Africa at home and a 1-0 victory against Lesotho away. Three teams in the group have accumulated seven points each, but thanks to a superior goal difference, Rwanda leads the pack. On the other hand, Rwanda was unable to qualify for the African Cup of Nations, finishing third in their group with 8 points, losing out to Benin on goal difference.
The Nigerian national team’s situation in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, however, is more concerning. After four rounds, they are in fifth place with just three points. Nigeria is yet to win a match, having drawn three times and trailing the top three by four points.
Despite this, in the African Cup of Nations qualifiers, the “Super Eagles” performed much better. With three wins and only one defeat in six matches, including two victories over Libya and one over Benin, Nigeria finished at the top of their group with 11 points, ahead of both Benin and Rwanda.
Probable Lineups:
- Rwanda: Ntwari; Niyomugabo, Niyigena, Mutsinzi, Ombolenga; Muhire, B Bizimana, Mugisha; G Mugisha, Kwizera, Nshuti.
- Nigeria: Nwabali; Ajayi, Troost-Ekong, Bassey, Aina; Ndidi, Dele-Bashiru, Onyemaechi; Chukwueze, Lookman, Boniface.
Match Facts and Head-to-Head:
In the African Cup of Nations qualifiers, Rwanda managed to defeat Nigeria away but ultimately failed to qualify. Of the five previous meetings between these two teams, the “Total over 2.5” bet has only won once. Additionally, the “Both teams to score” option has been successful in just one of the five encounters.
Prediction:
Despite bookmakers favoring Nigeria, Rwanda defeated them 1-0 in the fall, showing they can cause an upset. We recommend betting on the “Total under 2.0” with odds of 1.75, as this seems like a strong option for this match.
