Super Eagles interim coach Augustine Eguavoen has shed light on his decision to start Sevilla forward Kelechi Iheanacho in Nigeria’s shocking 2-1 home loss to Rwanda on Monday.

The defeat marked Nigeria’s first loss in the AFCON qualifiers and their first-ever loss to Rwanda, adding a surprising twist to the campaign.

Nigeria initially took the lead through Samuel Chukwueze, who found the back of the net in the 59th minute. However, Rwanda staged a dramatic comeback, equalizing in the 72nd minute before scoring the winner just three minutes later.

During the post-match press conference, Eguavoen explained his rationale for starting Iheanacho despite his recent struggles.

“Kelechi just needs someone to rebuild his confidence,” Eguavoen said. “He’s an asset to Nigeria. Although he’s had many opportunities and hasn’t lived up to expectations, we can’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. He needs encouragement.”

The coach revealed he had a personal conversation with Iheanacho before the match, hoping to inspire a strong performance.

“Since we were playing at home and leading the group, I spoke to him personally. I told him, ‘Try to get a goal. I’ll give you 45 minutes, and afterwards, Chukwueze will come on,’” Eguavoen added.

However, the pressure appeared too much for Iheanacho to handle. Reflecting on the situation, Eguavoen admitted, “The But the pressure on Kelechi from our people I think he can’t handle it. I tried to make him feel comfortable, but it didn’t work.”

Despite the setback, Nigeria qualified for the 2025 AFCON to of Group D with 11 points.