Rwanda’s captain, Djihad Bizimana, believes that Nigeria and South Africa underestimated his side at the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign in Group C.

Speaking during a press conference on Monday, Bizimana said that the so-called group favorites thought the qualifiers would be an easy ride, but results have proven otherwise.

“From the beginning, maybe you could see that Nigeria or South Africa thought it was going to be easy for them,” he said. “Now this shows that the level of African competition is improving for every team.”

The Rwandan skipper highlighted how the group has remained highly competitive up to the final matchday, noting that every nation — including Rwanda, Lesotho, and Zimbabwe — has shown that there are no easy games in African football.

Both Nigeria and South Africa, who were initially tipped to grab the automatic World Cup slots, now find themselves in tight qualification races, with their fates no longer entirely in their hands.

Bizimana added that the close competition reflects Africa’s football growth, with smaller teams now capable of challenging traditional powerhouses. Rwanda currently sits fourth in Group C and will face South Africa at the Mbombela Stadium on Tuesday in what promises to be a thrilling final showdown.