Football Bet of the Day: Crunch time for Nigeria in Kigali

It seems almost unthinkable that Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman and Victor Boniface won't feature at the 2026 World Cup, but after Nigeria failed to win any of their first four qualifiers, that's now a very real possibility as the Super Eagles languish fifth in Group C, four points behind their next opponents, leaders Rwanda, who they face at the Stade Amahoro in Kigali on Friday (16:00).

The Caf World Cup qualifier features in my football bet of the day for Friday, March 21, with new Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle, dismissed by another West African nation, Mali, in June last year, desperate to get off to a winning start.

Rwanda vs Nigeria Odds

In contrast to Nigeria, who have six World Cup finals appearances to their name, Rwanda have never competed at international football's top tournament. However, that could soon change.

After four games, the East African nation have seven points, level with South Africa (second) and Benin (third), but importantly, that's four more than group favourites Nigeria possess. A win for Rwanda on Friday would send them seven points clear of the Super Eagles at the halfway point of the campaign.

Rwanda's success so far has been based on solidity as they have conceded just once in four group games; Amavubi have beaten South Africa (2-0) and Lesotho (0-1), drawn with Zimbabwe (0-0) and lost to Benin (1-0).

Nigeria, meanwhile, drew their first three matches 1-1 against Lesotho, Zimbabwe and South Africa before suffering a 2-1 defeat to Benin last time out in qualifying.

The heat is now well and truly on as they bid to keep Rwanda and the others in touching distance; a loss on Friday could be catastrophic to their qualification hopes.

Really, Nigeria need to be winning in Kigali, particularly if they still harbour hopes of finishing first. That's easier said than done, but with Osimhen, Lookman and Boniface in attack, and the likes of Alex Iwobi (Fulham) and Ola Aina (Nottingham Forest) behind them, they should have too much for their hosts on Friday.

Football Odds

There haven't been many goals in Group C with just three of the 12 games played to this point going over 2.5 goals, but both teams have scored in all four of Nigeria's qualifiers and that should give Rwanda confidence that they can breach their back line in the capital.

Chelle has a reputation for expansive football and while that should hopefully inject some life into a, to this point, limp Nigerian attack, it might not help shore them up in defence. We can probably expect some teething problems, so I give the hosts a great chance of scoring on Friday.

However, I just can't see Nigeria losing again, or even failing to win for a fifth successive match. They simply have to turn up this week or find themselves with a mountain to climb in their final five qualifiers.

The Super Eagles possess so much quality in attack and shouldn't just be reliant on the three big hitters already named. Moses Simon (FC Nantes), Samuel Chukwueze (Milan) and Umar Sadiq (Real Sociedad, on loan to Valencia) are all capable forwards and in midfield, Chelle can call upon 60-cap international Wilfried Ndidi (Leicester City) who, along with Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge), can provide the base from which Nigeria can launch their attacks.

These qualifiers aren't usually renowned for goals but Nigeria's vulnerabilities, combined with their desperation to win this match, could create the conditions for a few strikes in Kigali.

I've got Nigeria winning this one - just - and therefore the 9/2 on an away victory and both teams to score is my football bet of the day for Friday, March 21.

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