The win moved the Super Eagles up to third in the standings, six points behind leader South Africa with three matches remaining.

Nigeria visits South Africa on Wednesday (AEST) in what could be the key fixture of the Group C campaign.

South Africa, however, is expected to be docked three points for using a defaulter in March but has surprisingly not yet been sanctioned by FIFA.

The group winner will qualify automatically for the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals in North America, which will have 48 teams for the first time.

Nigeria might have to do without top striker Victor Osimhen this week, with the former African Footballer of the Year forced off with an injury to his left foot in the first half.

It is not yet clear whether he will make the trip to South Africa.

Arokodare, recently signed by Wolverhampton Wanderers, got a touch to Ola Aina’s 52nd-minute effort, steering the ball in from just under the bar as Nigeria finally breached a tight visiting defence.

Rwanda dropped to fourth in the standings after the defeat, with eight points from its seven Group C outings.

Nigeria has been to six previous FIFA World Cup finals but missed out on the most recent tournament in Qatar in 2022.