For the Super Eagles, the road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup has been anything but smooth. After a shaky start to the qualifiers, they now face two defining fixtures.
The official dates for Nigeria’s next 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwehave been confirmed.
The Super Eagles will face Rwanda’s Amavubi on Friday, March 21, in a matchday five encounter at the Amahoro Stadium, Kigali.
Five days later, they will return home to host Zimbabwe’s Warriors on Wednesday, March 26, at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo.
Chelle’s First Test as Super Eagles Boss
The team’s official X (formerly Twitter) page confirmed the fixtures on Tuesday:
“Work begins 🦅🇳🇬 👊🏾
Éric Chelle’s first two games as Super Eagles head coach will be the crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers—Rwanda away and Zimbabwe at home in March. Let’s go, Super Eagles!!!”
These matches mark Éric Chelle’s first challenge since taking over as head coach, and with Nigeria struggling in the qualifiers, he faces immediate pressure to deliver.
Super Eagles in Danger of Another World Cup Miss
Nigeria’s qualification campaign has been disastrous so far, with the team yet to win a single game. They have managed just three draws and one defeat from four matches, leaving them fifth in Group C with only three points.
They sit four points behind the joint leaders Rwanda, South Africa, and Benin Republic, who each have seven points, while Lesotho has five points and Zimbabwe is bottom with two.
Their last meeting with Rwanda ended in disappointment, as the Super Eagles surrendered an early lead in Uyo. Samuel Chukwueze’s brilliant solo goal had put Nigeria ahead, but Rwanda responded with two quick goals in four minutes, stunning the home crowd.
No More Room for Error
Having missed out on the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Nigeria is now at serious risk of failing to qualify for back-to-back tournaments.
With six matches remaining, the three-time African champions must go unbeaten to stand a realistic chance of securing a spot at the 2026 World Cup.
With a new manager at the helm, the March qualifiers will be make-or-break for the Super Eagles.
A strong performance against Rwanda and Zimbabwe could revive their hopes, but anything less than six points could be disastrous.
