The Nigeria Football Federation has criticized the Beninoise Football Federation for mistakenly playing the old Nigerian national anthem before the game.
This followed Nigeria’s 2-1 defeat to the Benin Republic in their fourth match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers on Monday,
Prior to the Eagles’ unexpected loss to their neighbors, reactions flared across Nigeria as players were seen singing along to the old national anthem, which resounded at the Felix Houphouët-Boigny stadium, Benin Republic’s temporary home ground in Abidjan.
During Nigeria’s previous qualifying match against South Africa in Uyo, held last Friday, the new anthem was played.
According to Ademola Olajire, NFF’s Director of Media and Communications, the NFF had provided a recording of Nigeria’s new national anthem to Benin FA officials at the Match Coordination Meeting in Abidjan on Sunday evening.
“We gave them the recording of our new national anthem, only for them to play the wrong one at the beginning of the match. We protested strongly and insisted that the Super Eagles would not start the second half until the new national anthem of Nigeria was played,” stated Dayo Enebi Achor, Head of International Competitions, in the released statement.
The statement further noted that the Benin FA eventually played the correct Nigerian national anthem before the start of the second half.
“With that kind of confusion home and abroad, how can they concentrate and win,” expressed a fan, Nnamdi Daniel, on X.
Social media influencer Daniel Regha remarked, “Nigeria has more national anthem than goals per match, thank you Finidi George, but the NFF also shares in the blame. Up Super Eagles.”
Another fan, David Pine, commented, “As image makers of the country, this is totally wrong and unacceptable.”
President Bola Tinubu had signed the National Anthem Bill 2024, reinstating the old anthem, ‘Nigeria, We Hail Thee’, into law, replacing “Arise, O Compatriots.”
The ‘Nigeria, We Hail Thee’ anthem was in use from Nigeria’s independence in 1960 until it was replaced by “Arise, O Compatriots” in 1978.
