Nigeria will visit Rwanda at Amahoro Stadium on Friday, March 21, in a 2026 World Cup Qualifier Group C match day 5 game. It will be a keenly contested game as Rwanda aims for a win to edge closer to the qualification ticket for their first World Cup ever while Nigeria wants a win to put their campaign back on track. Both teams have a pool of good players at their disposal and Times Sport takes a look at five key battles to look out for in the match. Claude Niyomugabo vs Ola Aina It was a fascinating battle when the two players last faced each other which was in the 2025 AFCON qualifiers in Kigali on September 10, 2024. Niyomugabo played as if he was possessed and Ola Aina will admit he has never been tormented by another full back in his career like that. The Nottingham Forest star got booked on the stroke of half time by Moroccan referee Karim Sabry for pulling the jersey of Niyomugabo who had left him for dead. It will be another fierce battle on Friday and Niyomugabo will want to show again that he can compete against some of the best in the world. Kevin Muhire vs Wilfred Ndidi Muhire ran the show against the more experienced Ndidi and occasionally left the Nigeria deputy skipper marking only shadows. Muhire was so swift, his passes, ability to move into empty spaces and others was spot on when the two teams met in September last year. Will the Rayon Sports skipper be able to replicate that performance or will Ndidi come out victorious this time? Only time will tell. ALSO READ: WC 2026: How can Amrouche pass Osimhen led Nigeria test Victor Osimhen vs Ange Mutsinzi Ange Mutsinzi did a good job by man-marking the Nigerian star when the two teams met 6 months ago. Osimhen was restricted to just 3 chances when he came on in the second half as Amavubi pulled a 0-0 draw. The telepathic understanding between Mutsinzi and his defensive partner Thierry Manzi worked on the day as though the former was marking Osimhen, the latter stood close so as to offer additional support. Osimhen is expected to start on Friday and will the Amavubi pair be able to hold him for 90 minutes? Mutsinzi may have learnt his lessons as in the 2023 AFCON qualifiers, he pocketed Sadio Mane for 95 minutes before conceding a 96th minute penalty as Amavubi lost 1-0. Bonheur Mugisha vs Ademola Lookman Lookman was the most dangerous Nigerian player the last time the two teams met in Kigali in September 2024. The Atalanta star played as a number 10 and he caused problems for Bonheur Mugisha early in the game before the Stade Tunisien player warmed himself into the encounter and had a wonderful outing. It will be an intriguing battle again between the two players should Eric Chelle choose to deploy Lookman as a number 10. Nigerian attack vs Fiacre Ntwari Fiacre Ntwari made an incredible 11 saves as Amavubi drew 0-0 with Nigeria at the same venue in a 2025 AFCON qualifier in 2024. Ntwari earned praise from then Nigeria coach Augustine Eguavoen who described him as the man of the match and one of the best keepers he has seen. Nigeria is spoilt for choice in attack. They have Osimhen, Victor Moses, Umar Sadiq, Ademola Lookman, Samuel Chukwueze, Tolu Arokodare and others who cause havoc on any day. They will start firing from all angles as usual and Ntwari must have to prove his mettle again by saving Amavubi as he did in September 2024.
