The battle in Group C of the African qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup took another twist on Tuesday as Rwanda defeated Zimbabwe 1-0 away in Johannesburg.
Gilbert Mugisha’s thunderous first-half strike from outside the box at Orlando Stadium sealed the victory, which also confirmed Zimbabwe’s elimination from the qualifiers.
The result lifted Rwanda to 11 points and third place on the log after eight matches.
With Rwanda’s win, the Super Eagles of Nigeria slipped to fourth position — less than an hour before their crucial encounter against group leaders South Africa, who currently sit on 16 points.
The Super Eagles now face added pressure, as only a victory over Bafana Bafana can revive Nigeria’s hopes of reaching the World Cup finals next year.