Football fans have reacted to the decision of Egyptian referee Maarouf Eid Mansour to cancel a first-half goal by Ademola Lookman as Nigeria drew Rwanda in Kigali.
The Super Eagles settled for a goalless draw with Rwanda in their second 2025 AFCON qualifiers match at the Amahoro Stadium in Rwanda.
It was a largely uneventful first half, but the game began to take a drastic twist towards the final minutes of the first half.
Ademola Lookman thought he had given Nigeria the lead when he opened the scoring, but the goal was controversially disallowed by the 37-year-old Egyptian referee.
In the build-up to the disallowed goal, Nigeria won a throwing in Rwanda’s penalty area. Ola Aina delivered a long throw inside the opponent’s box. An unmarked Ademola Lookman planted a powerful header and got it into the back of the net to give Nigeria the lead.
The goal was chalked off immediately by the referee for offside, with fans questioning the referee’s decision to chalk off the goal.
A fan wrote, “So so disappointing. I can’t believe my eyes.”
Another fan called for the referee to be banned. He wrote, “The referee has to be banned.”
Another asked sarcastically, “Where did they pick that referee from.”?
Another user, MJ, expressed his disappointment, describing the referee as a national disgrace, and calling for him to be investigated.
”I’m highly disappointed in your referee. This is a national disgrace and this need to be investigated.”
Another user, Jude Ogbeide, made a sarcastic call, mocking the referee’s decision. He wrote, “Come out and defend your referee from Morocco.”
Overall, fans believed the referee was wrong to make an offside call, disallowing the goal.
It was a game of a few chances in the first half. Both sides failed to create clear-cut chances. Nigeria came close to their only first-half big chance in the game when Victor Boniface hit the crossbar.
Meanwhile, towards the end of the first half, Rwanda began to build more momentum with countless advances into Nigeria’s half. However, Nigeria held on to drag the game into the break with no goal.
Nigeria early substitutions in the game
Nigeria’s head coach, Austin Eguavoen, made early substitutions in the game to add more impetus to Nigeria’s attack. Victor Boniface was substituted for Victor Osimhen.
Samuel Chukwueze came off for Moses Simon. Rwanda still retained their dominant spell but were frequently upset by Victor Osimhen’s pace upfront.
It was still a cagey affair between the two sides with no big chance after 60 minutes. In the 62nd minute, Victor Osimhen got a long pass over the top. He attempted a header but was marked out by Rwanda defender.
Osimhen’s close attempt was countered by a good attacking sprint by the hosts, but Stanley Nwabali was up to the task.
Ademola Lookman with another big chance for Nigeria
Nigeria’s biggest chance in the second half came in the 70th minute. Ola Aina had delivered another long throw into the opponents’ box. Lookman was left unmarked to deliver a first-time effort, but the Rwandan goalkeeper made a stunning save to deny the Atalanta winger.
A few minutes later, Nigeria came through again with another big chance. Ola Aina had a swath of space in the left and perfectly delivered a cross into the box. An on-rushing Victor Osimhen met it, but his low shot was gathered by the Rwandan goalkeeper.
Nigeria seemed to dominate proceedings towards the final minutes but could not make it count. The game ended with both sides settling for a barren draw.
2025 AFCON Qualifiers Group D standings after Rwanda match
The draw against Rwanda means Nigeria are leading 2025 AFCON Qualifiers Group D with four points, two points better than Rwanda, who are second in the group. Libya and Benin Republic are third and fourth, respectively, with a game in hand.
Nigeria will take on Libya in their next match in the October international break to complete the first phase of the qualifiers.
