Eric Chelle, the team’s coach, is pleased with their victory over Rwanda on Saturday in Uyo’s 2026 World Cup qualifier.
The goal, scored by Tolu Arokodare, gave the Super Eagles a glimmer of hope as they raced to the top of the group to earn the distinction.
The Malian tactician praised his team after scoring all three points against the Amavubis in his post-game press conference.
“The three points are all good,” I said. Because we had 70% of the possession in the first half and Rwanda was tired, I’m happy about how the team played in the second half, Chelle said. Because of this, they didn’t press us when we scored the goal.
The Super Eagles’ victory, according to the coach, gives them hope for a crucial match against South Africa on Tuesday.
“We are now content because we won 1-0,” the statement read. The coach addressed the audience at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom, “and we can go to South Africa with a lot of ambitions.”
READ ALSO: UPDATED: Rwanda’s Super Eagles Pip To Keep Their World Cup Qualification Hopes Alive
Victor Osimhen, the star striker, injured himself in the game. Chelle claims that the player will undergo a scan to determine the severity of the injury concern.
Adel Amrouche, Chelle’s Rwandan counterpart, questioned the officiating of the game.
Amrouche criticized some of the officials’ choices in the fiercely contested match, despite expressing his gratitude for the victory.
Because of what has already happened in the past, I don’t want to discuss officiating much. He declared to reporters in the state of Akwa Ibom on Saturday night, “I don’t want to be banned once more.”
“Both teams put up a strong fight in the endgame, but the officiating was subpar.”
Nigeria lost to Rwanda in a World Cup qualifier in 2026, which has raised questions for Rwanda coach Adel Amrouche.  ,
Tolu Arokodare, the Wolves’ striker, fired home on Saturday to give Nigeria the final three points in the matchup that must be won.
Amrouche criticized the officiating at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo and praised Nigeria for the victory in a press conference following the game.
[2026WCQ] Chelle Sets Sights On South Africa After Nigeria’s Win Vs. Rwanda
As Thomas Tuchel’s uninspired England continued to win on Saturday, Cristiano Ronaldo helped an emotional Portugal to a perfect start to their World Cup qualifying campaign.
Portugal made an impressive first appearance in the finals of next year, defeating Armenia 5-0 in Yerevan, marking their first victory since Diogo Jota’s passing to Liverpool and his brother Andre Silva in a car accident.
In honor of Jota and his brother, who died in a crash in northern Spain on July 3, 11 days after Jota had married Rute Cardoso, the mother of his three children, both teams observed one minute of silence before kickoff at the Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium.
Portugal’s unstoppable 40-year-old talisman scored in either half, the second a sizzling shot from a distance, to increase his world record for goals to 140 more than 20 years after his first, which is five-time Ballon d’Or winner.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Cristiano Ronaldo play during Armenia and Portugal’s match for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match in Yerevan on September 6, 2025. (Photo by KAREN MINASYAN/AFP)
Roberto Martinez’s Nations League winners moved into Group F with the help of a brace from Joao Felix, Ronaldo’s new teammate at Saudi side Al Nassr, and another contribution from Joao Cancelo, another Saudi-based player.
Portugal’s No. 21
Cancelo marked his goal by pointing his both hands to the sky in honor of Jota’s goal celebration.
Ronaldo scored in the 21st minute for Lazio, according to Lazio left-back Nuno Tavares, who regarded the 21 shirt number as significant when Jota wore it while representing his country.
“We’re all very happy because it shows that he’s (Jota) with us, that Ronaldo’s goal was made possible at that time,” he said. He’ll always be there for us, as it was today’s statement.
Ronaldo claimed it was the “first step taken” in his quest to win a sixth World Cup on social media.
Cristiano Ronaldo, a forward for Portugal, walks on the pitch during Armenia and Portugal’s match for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match in Yerevan on September 6, 2025. (Photo by KAREN MINASYAN/AFP)
In the late-game matchup of the pool, the Republic of Ireland takes on Hungary.
READ MORE: Joao Felix, Portugal’s Joao Felix, Attends Al Nassr In Saudi Arabia
England extended their unbeaten run to four games in Group K with a 2-0 victory over Andorra at Villa Park in Birmingham.
Declan Rice’s header completed Christian Garcia’s first-half own-goal, keeping Tuchel’s team firmly in the frame for the 2026 football festival in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
The Three Lions will be more than happy with their 12 points, but it was in reality yet another subpar performance that raised doubts about Tuchel’s ability to produce a talented generation with a trophy-winning team.
In the final third, England were effective but unspectacular and lacking in intelligence and guile.
Tuchel must have been frustrated by Tuchel’s expression on the touchline.
The German claimed that the subdued crowd had a part in the spectacle and that it was challenging because the crowd was “very different from a Premier League crowd.”
We had too many ball losses in the first half and lost our focus and concentration after the second goal, but we found it again in the second half and should have scored more.
When England take on Serbia, the former Chelsea and Bayern Munich boss, the former Chelsea boss wants a more purposeful performance on Tuesday in his toughest match of the year.
We’ve learned a lot, and I’m happy for the players, they said. We will now demonstrate our case in Belgrade, Tuchel said.
After defeating Latvia 1-0 in Riga, the Serbs are now tied for second place with seven points.
The action on Saturday comes to a close with Austria hosting Group H hosts Bosnia-Herzegovina and Cyprus in San Marino.
16 European nations will make it to the World Cup overall.
The 12 group winners automatically advance to the finals of the expanded 48-team competition, while the four remaining spots are determined by playoffs involving the 12 group runners-up.
The Super Eagles needed just one more strike from Wolves forward Tolu Arokodare to defeat vengeful Rwanda in a crucial World Cup qualifier in 2026, keeping Nigeria’s slim chances of winning alive.  ,
In the 51st minute, Arokodare’s acrobatic effort from the turf gave Nigeria their second victory in the qualification series, moving them six points clear of Group C leaders South Africa, who they face on Tuesday.
Nigeria needed a win over the Amavubis to resurrect their campaign after a poor start to the qualifying race. Up until Eric Chelle’s appointment in January, they had drawn their first four games.  ,
In his first two qualifying matches, the Malian was on track to win all six points. However, Nigeria only received four points after a late equalizer at home to Zimbabwe.
The Super Eagles dominated play at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium as expected, but they struggled to convert chances.  ,
Victor Osimhen, the point guard for Galatasaray, thought he had given Nigeria the lead when he headed the ball into the back of the net in the eighth minute. However, because of his offside goal, it was forwarded.
A few minutes after he fell from a challenge, Osimhen was substituted in the 33rd minute. Cyril Dessers of Panathinaikos replaced him. The brilliant Fiacre Ntwari intercepted Alex Iwobi’s long-range effort in the Rwandan goal just moments later.
The Super Eagles struggled but were unable to defeat a Rwandan team that was prepared to lean forward and take the home team’s pressure.
The 2013 AFCON champions continued to advance until the second half was over. The imposing Arokadare, who was introduced at half-time, fired home in the near post to give Nigeria the much-needed cushion, and it paid off in the 51st minute.
Ademola Lookman, the reigning African Footballer of the Year, was blocked by Ntwari, but the former Genk man kindly bundled the ball home.
TEA well-served . twitter.com/03eNcWbp9Z
Ntwari made a remarkable save to stop Moses Simon and Lookman later in the game, which could have increased their total.
However, the Super Eagles were a little scared after Calvin Bassey’s close-range header was blocked before Stanley Nwabali saved the rebound late in the game.
Nigeria had three more minutes to go before the final whistle, which gives them a glimmer of hope heading to South Africa.
The 2026 World Cup qualifiers are three more games away, so Tuesday’s game against South Africa in Bloemfontein is crucial. Nigeria has no other chance of winning one of Africa’s automatic tickets to the competition unless it wins all of its games.
They will also be hoping that South Africa’s March 2025 game against Lesotho will result in a three-point penalty from FIFA for fielding an ineligible player.
FIFA has to make a decision right now. If they place among the top four second-placed teams in the qualifiers, the three-time African champions may also be eligible for the tournament. Then, after the pool, the other team will advance to the intercontinental play-off.
Nigeria’s crucial World Cup qualifier against Rwanda will feature Captain William Troost-Ekong, with Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen serving first in the lineup.  ,
According to the lineup that was made public on the team’s official social media page, Coach Eric Chelle lacked Benjamin Frederick in place. At the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, the 20-year-old FCV Dender EH defender will play alongside Calvin Bassey in the center of Nigeria’s defense.
Wilfred Ndidi, a former Leicester City midfielder, will lead the Amavubis. In establishing the team’s midfield, Frank Onyeka and Alex Iwobi will work with him.
Your #SuperEagles to face Rwanda
Ndidi is in charge of the side. Frederick and Bassey defend it by holding it down. The attack was spearheaded by Osimhen and Lookman at #Naija4theWin and #SoarSuperEagles. twitter.com/ZWKKfYzMGn
Stanley Nwabali, the team’s first-choice goalkeeper, will continue to play in Simon Moses’ defense despite a team injury scare, while Osimhen and Lookman will provide support for them.
Nigeria must win to maintain their slim chances of winning the World Cup, having only managed seven points in the six games they have played so far in the US, Mexico, and Canada qualifying process.
Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz defeated each other in straight sets on Friday to face defending champion Jannik Sinner in the US Open final.
In two hours and 23 minutes, Spanish second seed Alcaraz put a ruthlessly effective performance on display to put an end to Djokovic’s most recent attempt to win a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title.
Alcaraz then defeated archrival Sinner in the final, who was forced to work hard by Canadian 25th seed Felix Auger-Aliassime, before posting a 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory on the Arthur Ashe Stadium court.
This will be the third consecutive Grand Slam final between Alcaraz and Sinner, and US President Donald Trump will be present on Sunday in the most recent installment of the gripping “Sincaraz” conflict.
Alcaraz defeated Sinner in the Wimbledon final the following month in an epic five-hour, 29-minute tussle at the French Open before the pair met for the first time in a stunning five-hour feud.
Alcaraz’s victory over Djokovic, however, suggested that he could more effectively ambushed Sinner in a match where the winner would be guaranteed a spot in the world rankings on Monday.
Beating Novak is a unique experience.
On day thirteen of the US Open tennis competition, which takes place at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City, Italy’s Jannik Sinner celebrates on September 5, 2025, during his men’s singles semifinal match against Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime. (Photo by KENA BETANCUR/AFP)
The 22-year-old, five-time Grand Slam champion has not lost a set since reaching the final, but still believes he needs to improve.
“Beating Novak is always unique. After downing the 38-year-old Djokovic, Alcaraz said, “I don’t feel like I’ve won anything other than a Grand Slam semi-final.” It was a significant match, but it served as a “ticket to the final”
Djokovic said he wanted to win more Grand Slams next year, but he acknowledged that he was no longer physically capable of beating Alcaraz and Sinner.
After his exit, Djokovic said, “I’m happy with my level of tennis, but you know, it’s just the physicality of it.” “I can’t, regrettably, at this point in my career, control that.”
Sinner, however, gave the impression that he was getting ready for yet another quick win as he sprinted through the first set of his fight with the agitated Auger-Aliassime.
However, Sinner responded by claiming the next two sets and returning to the final after the Canadian had taken the second set.
“Amazing Season” is underway.
Sinner, who won the Australian Open in January, joins a select group of athletes who include Rod Laver, Roger Federer, and Novak Djokovic as the only other player to reach the finals of all four Grand Slams in a single season.
“The season has been fantastic,” she said. The most significant tournaments take place annually are the Grand Slams, according to Sinner.
The Italians’ meeting with Alcaraz is a rematch of their famous 2022 US Open quarter-final five-setter, which came in at around 2.50 am and is still the most recent record for the tournament.
“Sunday is a very special day and an amazing final once more. Sinner nods to their 2022 classic, saying, “I think our rivalry started here playing an amazing match.
“We are now two different players with different levels of confidence.” See what’s coming, then. We’ve played a lot of games and are very well-versed in each other.
A sitting US president will visit the tennis final on Sunday, while earlier confirmation on Friday that US leader Trump would attend the event is rare.
READ MORE: Sinner Relishing’Second’US Open Final With Alcaraz,  .
Trump’s visit is the latest by the US leader to make an appearance at a major sporting event following visits to the Super Bowl in February and the FIFA Club World Cup final in July, according to a White House official.
Alcaraz compared Trump’s presence to “playing in front of him” and said, “I will try not to think about it. Although I don’t want to be enthralled by it, I believe that having the president attend the tennis match is wonderful.
Aryna Sabalenka, the defending champion and world number two, will face American eighth seed Amanda Anisimova in the women’s singles final on Saturday.
Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe defeated Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend 6-4, 6-4 to claim their second US Open women’s doubles title in three years in the women’s doubles final on Friday.
