Group winners Nigeria and Rwanda have landed at the Obong Victor Attah International Airport in Uyo ahead of Monday’s Matchday 6 clash in the concluding round of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.
The Amavubi arrive Uyo with a mathematical chance of qualifying, though the possibility is not in their favour.
Amavubi Arrive Uyo: The Permutations Ahead
They missed a big opportunity to enhance their chances when losing at home to Libya’s Mediterranean Knights on Thursday,
Rwanda can qualify if they defeat Nigeria in Uyo, and Libya defeats Benin Republic’s Cheetahs on Monday.
The Super Eagles, confirmed group winners, have nothing to chase other than national pride and will play a more relaxed game against the visitors than the turgid contest with the Cheetahs at the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny in Abidjan on Thursday night.
Nigeria’s delegation flew from the Ivorian capital, Abidjan, to Uyo aboard a chartered ValueJet aircraft, arriving at 3.50 pm.
Rwanda’s delegation flew from Kigali to Lagos aboard a regular Rwandair flight, arriving at 1 pm, before boarding an Ibom Air flight to Uyo. They landed in Uyo just before 5 pm.
Uyo’s magnificent Godswill Akpabio Stadium is the venue, and fans will expect a carnival atmosphere as the Super Eagles celebrate for 90 minutes and afterward with the AFCON ticket long in the bag.
Both countries battled to a scoreless draw in their first confrontation in Kigali in September, though the jury is still out on Ademola Lookman’s first-half headed goal that was inexplicably chalked off by the Moroccan referee.
Incidentally, another Moroccan will be in the role of referee on Monday. 44-year-old Samir Guezzaz takes the stage in the centre at the game that kicks off at 5 pm.
Guezzaz alongside his compatriots Zakaria Brinsi (assistant 1), Abdessamad Abertoune (assistant 2), and Kech Chaf Mustapha (fourth official) will arrive in Nigeria on Saturday.
Similarly, Prosper Harrison Addo from Ghana (commissioner) and Ali Mohamed Ahmed from Somalia (referee assessor).