Former Nigerian international, Dimeji Lawal, has praised the Super Eagles for securing a crucial 1-0 win over Rwanda on Saturday in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign, but warned that the ultimate test lies ahead against South Africa.
Reacting to the hard-fought victory at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, Lawal, in an interview with Complete Sports, stressed that while the performance of the team may not have been flawless, the most important outcome was the three points.
“Regardless of how the players played today against Rwanda, the most important thing is for the Super Eagles to pick up the maximum points,” he said.
Nigeria’s victory, sealed through a second-half strike, has revived hopes of the three-time African champions making it to the World Cup after a shaky start to the qualifiers.
Lawal, however, cautioned that the real battle is yet to come, as the Eagles now shift focus to their next outing against Bafana Bafana in Bloemfontein—a fixture he believes could determine the group’s final standings.
“Having achieved this, the team must now focus on the big clash against South Africa because that may decide who qualifies for the World Cup,” the former winger added.
He further commended the players for their resilience in the face of mounting pressure and urged Nigerians to rally behind the team as they prepare for the showdown in South Africa.
“At the moment, I want to appreciate the players for getting the victory and believe they will get the job done in South Africa,” Lawal stated.
The Super Eagles, who missed out on the last World Cup in Qatar, are determined to avoid another disappointment, with the encounter against South Africa on Tuesday seen by many as the defining moment of their qualifying campaign.
South Africa is top of the table with 16 points, followed by Benin Republic with 11, and Nigeria third with 10 points.
