By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The Super Eagles of Nigeria will square up against the Cheetahs of Benin Republic in an all-important 2026 World Cup qualifier on Monday.
Nigeria, currently fifth in Group C, are eager to secure their first win of the qualifying campaign. The Super Eagles have drawn their initial three matches against Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. Their most recent match ended in a 1-1 draw against South Africa at the Godwin Akpabio Stadium.
Coach Finidi George, who revealed his disappointment with the draw against the Bafana Bafana of South Africa, is confident that the Super Eagles will bounce back and get their qualification hopes shining bright.
“I am not shaken, I am relaxed, we know what is at stake, we know we have to qualify (for the World Cup), but that does not mean we have to run helter skelter because of the draw,” the 53-year-old said.
“We dropped points and that should not break us, a positive result will change the narrative.
“It is not the best result we wanted, we have to get our heads up and work for the next game (Benin).”
A win for Nigeria against Benin Republic who are second in Group C with four points would significantly boost Nigeria’s standing and revive their World Cup hopes.
Benin Republic’s Challenge
Benin Republic have also not experienced a smooth start to their campaign as only one point separates the West African country from its giant neighbour to the east.
The Cheetahs, coached by ex-Super Eagles gaffer Gernot Rohr, lost their opening match to South Africa and drew against Lesotho. However, they managed to secure a 1-0 victory over Rwanda in their last game.
Head-to-Head Record
Historically, Nigeria has dominated Benin Republic, winning 13 of their 16 encounters, with two draws and one loss.
The Super Eagles have won their last three matches against the Cheetahs. However, Benin Republic’s sole victory came in 2017, proving they can be challenging opponents.
Match Details
Date: Monday, June 10, 2024
Time: 5 pm Nigerian time
Venue: Houphouet Boigny Stadium, Abidjan, Ivory Coast