Super Eagles open camp in Uyo for vital 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and South Africa, starting with Saturday’s must-win clash

The Super Eagles have opened camp in Uyo ahead of two crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against Rwanda and South Africa.

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Nigeria will host Rwanda in a must-win matchday seven clash on Saturday, before traveling to Bloemfontein to take on Bafana Bafana three days later.

These two fixtures could define the Super Eagles’ qualification hopes as they currently sit fourth in Group C with seven points, six behind group leaders South Africa on 13.

The Rwandan team is expected to arrive in Lagos on Tuesday at 1:15 PM aboard a Rwanda Airlines flight and will head to Uyo by 4 PM the same day, according to a statement from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

“A one-man advance party will be in Lagos on Monday, but the full delegation will make landfall in Lagos on Tuesday,” the NFF noted.

Head coach Eric Chelle has released a 23-man squad for the qualifiers. Notably absent is Victor Boniface, though Stanley Nwabali, William Troost-Ekong, and Samuel Chukwueze are expected to lead the charge.

The group standings remain tight. Rwanda and Benin Republic are tied on eight points, while Lesotho and Zimbabwe have six and four points respectively.

While Rwanda will face bottom-placed Zimbabwe after Saturday’s match, Nigeria’s task intensifies as they travel to meet the high-flying South Africans, pending FIFA’s ruling on South Africa’s use of an ineligible player against Lesotho earlier this year.

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After the September double-header, the Super Eagles will conclude their qualifying campaign in October with an away match against Lesotho and a home fixture against Benin Republic.