Rwanda’s head coach, Torsten Frank-Spittler, has boldly declared that his team has come to Nigeria with one clear objective, to secure a win and keep their slim hopes of reaching the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

The Amavubi suffered a 1-0 defeat at home to Libya in their previous qualifier, putting them in a precarious position in the group standings.

Nigeria has already secured qualification with 11 points, while Benin sits second with 7 points, followed by Rwanda with 5 points and Libya with 4 points.

Both Rwanda and Libya still have a chance to qualify, making this final matchday crucial.

A loss or draw against Nigeria in Uyo would spell the end of Rwanda’s AFCON dreams.

To qualify, Rwanda must not only defeat Nigeria but also hope that the match between Libya and Benin ends in a draw.

Despite the challenging odds, Frank-Spittler remains confident in his team’s chances.

Speaking at the pre-match press conference ahead of Monday’s clash, he said:

“It is clear that if we want to go to AFCON, we have to win here. That is our mission. I expect an interesting match against Nigeria, and we will fight until the last minute.”

Acknowledging the strength of the Super Eagles, he added:

“Sure, we know that Nigeria is a very strong side. I think we played a good match against them at home, so we are expecting a very difficult game. But as I said, we are here to get three points.”

Frank-Spittler also commented on Nigeria’s situation, noting that the Super Eagles might approach the game differently, having already qualified for the tournament:

“We do not know how serious Nigeria will take the match now that they are already through, but I do not think they will make it easy for us. It will be a very interesting game.”

The Amavubi face a daunting task in Uyo, needing nothing short of a miracle to book their place at next year’s AFCON tournament.