2026 FWCQ: Troost-Ekong Calls For Maximum Focus On Rwanda Clash 

Ahead of the crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying encounter against Rwanda and South Africa, Super Eagles of Nigeria captain William Troost-Ekong has called for maximum focus on the game against Amavubi on Saturday, insisting on taking one game at a time.

The Al Kholood FC defender is looking forward to the tricky tie against Rwanda foremost despite the showdown with South Africa’s Bafana Bafana in Bloemfontein on Tuesday as they continue push for a place in the highly anticipated 2026 FIFA World Cup.

“You take one step at a time. We have Rwanda to play on Saturday, and there are three points there,” Ekong explained.

“After that is concluded, then we begin to think of South Africa. There are three points also in there when we play in Bloemfontein, but that is a few days after Rwanda. Rwanda comes first.

Nigeria has not had a campaign to shout about, especially in the first four matches of which she won none, but Ekong says the squad has committed to taking all points in the remaining games, believing that will be good enough to send Nigeria to the 48-nation finals in North America next summer.

“We will do our very best to go all out and win the remaining four matches. Hopefully, that will be good enough to take us there.”

The encounter with Rwanda, who lost the Matchday 5 that brought both teams at loggerheads in Kigali in March, is a Matchday 7 fixture, while the confrontation with South Africa is a Matchday 8 encounter.

Nigeria’s camp attained full capacity on Wednesday evening, with the arrivals of midfielders Raphael Onyedika and Christantus Uche, and forwards Victor Osimhen, Samuel Chukwueze and Tolu Arokodare.