Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong believes that Monday’s game against Rwanda in the final 2025 AFCON qualifier will be an important test, regardless of the outcome.

The match, he says, is a chance to build momentum, whether it results in success or offers lessons to learn from.

The Super Eagles have already secured their spot in the AFCON tournament, sitting at the top of their qualifying group with 11 points.

However, the stakes are still high for Rwanda, who are fighting for a chance to join Nigeria, as the second spot in the group remains up for grabs among three other teams.

Looking ahead, it’s worth noting that Nigeria will face Rwanda again next year in the World Cup qualifiers.

Currently, Nigeria sits fifth on the table and will need to win all six of their remaining matches to have a realistic chance of qualifying.

Speaking at the press conference ahead of Monday’s clash, Troost-Ekong emphasized the importance of the match as a preparatory step for both the upcoming AFCON and World Cup qualifiers.

“We are going to take the game very seriously,” Troost-Ekong stated. “It is also a way for us to prepare for next year, 2025 -everything that is going to be ahead, whether the AFCON or World Cup qualifiers.”

“We know that we are going to face them again so there are things we can learn from this game and winning this game is not the only thing we are after”

He continued, “We want to understand how they play, how we can set up against them. That can only come through trial and success or even trial and error, we will do that tomorrow.”

The World Cup qualifiers will resume in March 2025, with Nigeria set to face Rwanda as their first opponent in this crucial stage.