The Super Eagles of Nigeria are gearing up to face off against the Cheetahs of Benin Republic in a crucial 2026 World Cup qualifier on Monday.
Nigeria, currently fifth in Group C, is hungry for their first victory of the qualifying campaign.
The Super Eagles have drawn their first three matches against Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and South Africa, with their latest game ending in a 1-1 draw against South Africa at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
Coach Finidi George expressed his disappointment with the draw against South Africa but remains confident in his team’s abilities to bounce back and brighten their qualification prospects.
“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,” George 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 against Benin Republic, who are second in Group C with four points, would significantly bolster Nigeria’s position and revive their World Cup hopes.
Benin Republic has also had a challenging start to their campaign, with only one point separating them from Nigeria.
The Cheetahs, coached by former Super Eagles manager, Gernot Rohr, lost their opening match to South Africa and drew against Lesotho.
However, they secured a 1-0 victory over Rwanda in their last game.
Head-to-Head Record
Nigeria has historically dominated Benin Republic, winning 13 of their 16 encounters, with two draws and one loss.
The Super Eagles have emerged victorious in their last three matches against the Cheetahs.
However, Benin Republic’s sole victory came in 2017, highlighting their potential as formidable opponents.
Match Details
Date: Monday, June 10, 2024
Time: 5 pm Nigerian time
Venue: Houphouet Boigny Stadium, Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Broadcast: Available on AFRO Sports TV and FIFA+ TV.
