AFCON: Aina, Nwabali, out, Lookman doubtful for Rwanda game

Super Eagles first choice Stanley Nwabali and reliable wingback Ola Aina have been ruled out, and Ademola Lookman remains a huge doubt for Monday’s 2025 AFCON qualifying final-day’s Group D fixture against Amavubi of Rwanda set for Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, Sunday PUNCH reports.

Nwabali was the first to be excused from the team to attend to family matters in the aftermath of his father’s demise on Thursday. He was a sore miss for his South African club Chippa United during Saturday’s penalties defeat to Mamelodi Sundowns in the semifinal of the Home Of Legends Cup following a pulsating 1-1 draw in regulation time.

His place was taken by Darren Johnson, just as Maduka Okoye will man the posts for Nigeria in his stead against a desperate Amavubi side at the Nest of Champions.

Aina has returned to England on the request of his club, Nottingham Forest, after the Premier League side pleaded with Coach Austin Eguavoen to release the defender early for their big game against Arsenal since Nigeria’s AFCON ticket has been secured.

Another salient snippet from the team’s camp revealed that Lookman was excused from Saturday’s training session after suffering a knock in Thursday’s game against Benin Republic.

Lazio midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru will also miss out on the encounter due to an undisclosed injury that ruled him out of Thursday’s clash with the Cheetahs of Benin Republic in Ivory Coast.

Nigeria have 11 points, which put the three-time African champions in unassailable lead of the group, meaning Eguavoen could settle for fringe players who would be looking to prove their mettle with nothing but pride to play for.

Rwanda are third in the group with five points, while second-placed Benin Republic have seven points. A win over Nigeria, which on paper can’t happen in the wildest imagination, will see them leapfrog Benin to second position and bag the second ticket, with  Gernot Rohr’s Cheetahs facing an arduous trip to Libya, who are now fancying their chances of progressing after defeating Rwanda 1-0 in Kigali in Thursday’s earlier kickoff, which result delivered the ticket to Nigeria.

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