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

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.