Benin Republic vs Nigeria: Match preview and team news as Finidi’s Eagles seek first victory

The Super Eagles of Nigeria are thirsty for their first three points in the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign

The Super Eagles of Nigeria are set to face the Cheetahs of Benin Republic at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium on Monday, Soccernet.ng reports.

Following a 1-1 draw against the Bafana Bafana of South Africa, the Nigerian Eagles are eager to secure three points in their 2026 World Cup qualifiers campaign.

Despite draws against Lesotho and Zimbabwe last year and a strong performance at the 2023 AFCON, a win against South Africa remained crucial for Nigeria.

A goal from Themba Zwane almost handed Nigeria a loss until former Sheffield United midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru saved the situation with a crucial goal.

Match Preview

The Super Eagles will face Benin Republic in what promises to be an exciting match. Gernot Rohr, now coaching the Cheetahs, has a history with Nigeria, having been dismissed by former NFF President Amaju Pinnick.

The Nigerian side is determined to prove a point, using Rohr’s Benin Republic as a stepping stone to secure three points.

The 1996 Summer Olympics champions have a history of victories against their neighbours, winning their last four meetings. Benin has only won one of their last five encounters, a 2017 victory thanks to a penalty from Seibou Mama.

At the familiar Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium, where they played some of their 2023 AFCON games, Nigeria hopes to extend their winning streak against Benin.

Team News

Dele-Bashiru picked up a knock during Nigeria’s clash against South Africa after colliding with a defender. Unfortunately, it was not flagged for a penalty, and he was replaced by Alhassan Yusuf.

Coach Finidi George stated that Dele-Bashiru would be assessed to determine the extent of his injury.

“On his injury, he had a knock, the medical staff will observe him and see how he feels. Those knocks, you will not know until you wake up in the morning and see how the body reacts,” he said, as quoted by Daily Post

Samuel Chukwueze made his first appearance since AC Milan’s clash against Cagliari and is expected to be fully fit and start for Nigeria following his 24 minutes of action.

For Benin Republic, Andreas Hountondji, who was initially deemed unfit ahead of the Rwanda game, played well and is ready to face Nigeria, playing a crucial role for the Cheetahs as they aim for three points.

Nigeria vs Benin Republic: Head-to-Head Analysis

The Super Eagles of Nigeria have established a dominant record against Les Guépards of Benin in their head-to-head encounters. As the two teams prepare for a crucial World Cup qualifying match, the historical context heavily favors Nigeria, who have emerged victorious in their last five senior-level meetings against Benin.

Recent Form and Historical Dominance

Nigeria’s dominance in this fixture is evident from their recent results. The Super Eagles have consistently outplayed Benin in various competitions, particularly in the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournaments and qualifiers. This consistent performance underlines Nigeria’s superiority and the psychological advantage they hold over their opponents.

Venue Advantage

The upcoming match is set to take place at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium, a venue where Nigeria has found considerable success. During the 2023 AFCON, Nigeria played three matches at this stadium, winning all of them without conceding a single goal. This venue has become a fortress for the Super Eagles, adding to their psychological edge as they head into the match.

Team Form and Key Players

While Nigeria has struggled in the current World Cup qualifiers, being winless so far, their historical performance against Benin provides a confidence boost. Coached by Finidi George, the Super Eagles are eager to kickstart their qualifying campaign with a victory. Despite some absences in the squad, the depth and quality of the Nigerian team remain formidable.

Key players like Victor Boniface and Ademola Lookman are expected to play crucial roles. Boniface’s striking prowess and Wilfred Ndidi’s midfield dominance will be pivotal for Nigeria as they seek to break their winless streak.

Benin’s Challenge

Under the guidance of coach Gernot Rohr, Benin will be looking to overturn their poor record against Nigeria. The Guépards have shown improvement and resilience in recent years, but overcoming Nigeria remains a daunting task. Benin will need to capitalize on any weaknesses and bring their best performance to stand a chance against the Super Eagles.

Match Details

Competition: CAF World Cup Qualifiers, Gameweek 4
Match: Benin Republic vs Nigeria
Venue: Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium (Abidjan)
Date: Monday, June 10, 2024
Kickoff time: 5 pm (Nigerian time)

NB: Who do you think will take all points in the clash between the Cheetahs and Super Eagles? Leave your comments below.

Ayomide Oguntimehin

Ayomide Oguntimehin is a CAF-accredited sports journalist and an Editor at Soccernet.ng, with a proven track record in conducting interviews with Super Eagles stars such as William Troost-Ekong, Taiwo Awoniyi, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Ademola Lookman, and many others. He has also made a significant impact in breaking transfer news stories. Grounded in video editing, video journalism, social media management, and content strategy, Ayomide brings a wealth of expertise to his work. With a Bachelor's degree in English Language from Adeyemi College of Education and a Master's Degree in School Library and Media Technology from the University of Ibadan, Ayomide is well-prepared to excel in the field.

Recent Posts

“Lost money because of me” – Nigerian star claims angry gamblers behind vicious online attacks

KRC Genk forward Tolu Arokodare has blamed disgruntled gamblers for the barrage of online abuse… Read More

2 minutes ago

Report: Manchester United make big step in Victor Osimhen transfer

English Premier League club Manchester United have reached out to Victor Osimhen's representatives over a… Read More

4 hours ago

“This is amazing” – Atalanta star Lookman stunned by young Nigerian artist’s unique stamp artwork

Atalanta forward and newly crowned CAF Africa Player of the Year, Ademola Lookman has been… Read More

4 hours ago

Kelechi Iheanacho: Five clubs in race to sign Sevilla forward ahead of January window

The January transfer window is fast approaching, and Sevilla FC forward Kelechi Iheanacho has become… Read More

15 hours ago

Boavista slam ₦9.6 billion price-tag on Super Eagles star amid from Trabzonspor

Portuguese club Boavista have slapped a hefty ₦9.6 billion price-tag on Super Eagles defender Bruno… Read More

16 hours ago

Why Taiwo Awoniyi’s market value has dropped by ₦13.6 billion at Nottingham Forest

Taiwo Awoniyi’s time at Nottingham Forest has taken a disappointing turn, with the Nigerian striker's… Read More

17 hours ago