Nigeria’s 1994 Africa Cup of Nations winner, Peter Rufai, has expressed his delight at the Super Eagles’ performances during their recent AFCON qualifying matches against Benin Republic and Rwanda, Soccernet.ng reports.
The Nigerian national team, led by interim coach Augustine Eguavoen, secured four points from two matches, beginning their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification campaign on a positive note.
In stark contrast to the disappointing results under former head coach Finidi George, Nigeria started the international break with a commanding 3-0 victory over Benin in Uyo.
This was followed by a goalless draw against Rwanda in Kigali, where the Super Eagles had multiple chances to win, including an Ademola Lookman goal controversially ruled out.
Rufai, a former goalkeeper for the Super Eagles, was impressed with the team’s discipline and improved performance under Eguavoen.
“From the first game against Benin Republic in Akwa Ibom, it was evident that the boys had improved from the last matches they played during the World Cup qualifiers,” Rufai told The Punch.
“The first match was very good. The Super Eagles, under the watch of Augustine Eguavoen, had a solid performance. The boys did well, and I can say they have stepped up their game,” he added.
Rufai also emphasised the importance of the team’s tactical discipline and their ability to follow Eguavoen’s instructions:
“My joy was that they played according to the instructions of their coach, Eguavoen, which made everybody smile at the end of the day.”
While acknowledging the difficulty of the second match against Rwanda, Rufai praised the Super Eagles for holding firm and preventing a home defeat:
“In a nutshell, Nigeria would have secured a breakthrough, but the opponents resisted them. That doesn’t mean Nigeria did not play well. We played well. If they had lost that match, it would have been more painful than a draw.”
He concluded on an optimistic note, stating,
“Looking at this performance gives me assurance that we are on course to dominate.”
Nigeria will return to international action in mid-October for a doubleheader against Libya as the AFCON qualifiers continue.