Djihad Bizimana, captain of Rwanda’s , Amavubi, says that despite their shocking home defeat to Libya’s Mediterranean Knights in matchday five of the 2025 AFCON qualifiers, the lessons learned from that game will inspire them against the Super Eagles in Uyo, Completesports.com reports.
Bizimana spoke on Sunday during a pre-match press briefing at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, ahead of Monday’s final Group D qualifier for the 2025 AFCON.
“It’s true that we lost our last game at home (to Libya), but we still have some positives to take from it,” the soft-spoken Bizimana began.
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“It was a game we should have won under normal circumstances, but it wasn’t to be. We were so close, yet so far away. All the same, the positives we took from that match will drive us in this game against the Super Eagles, and I believe they will help us secure a good result.”
Bizimana acknowledged the quality of the Super Eagles, boasting experienced players based in Europe, but insisted that his team is determined to overcome them to achieve their goal.
“Nigeria have big players, all of them playing in Europe, but that is not enough reason for us not to win,” he said.
“We want to play in the AFCON next year. So we must fight, and we must win.”
Also Read: ‘Our Mission Is To Beat Super Eagles And Qualify For AFCON 2025’ — Rwanda Coach, Spittler
The last time Rwanda participated in the Africa Cup of Nations was in 2004, during the edition hosted in Tunisia. They lost 1-2 to the hosts, the Carthage Eagles, in their opening match.
The Super Eagles, already through to their 21st AFCON appearance, top Group D with 11 points, while Benin Republic are second with seven points. Rwanda, sitting third with five points, will need an upset against Nigeria in Uyo and hope Libya defeat Benin in Benghazi to keep their qualification hopes alive.
CAF has scheduled both games to kick off simultaneously at 5:00 pm Nigerian time, today: Monday November 18, 2024.
By Sab Osuji, in Uyo
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