Nigeria face Benin in their final 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match on Tuesday in what will be a fierce West African duel laced with history, pride, and a tinge of redemption.
The Super Eagles must win to keep their qualification hopes alive. Benin, on the other hand, only need to avoid defeat to maintain their place at the top of the group.
Rarely has this fixture carried so much weight for both teams.
Yet, long before this decisive clash, Nigeria and Benin have written a tapestry of encounters that range from emphatic victories to stunning upsets.
Since their first meeting in 1977, a 7–0 Nigerian triumph, the two nations have met 19 times. Nigeria have dominated, with 13 wins, three draws, and only two defeats. But hidden within those numbers lie some of Africa’s most fascinating football tales.
Here are Soccernet.ng‘s pick of five of the Nigeria and Benin's fiercest battles; games that shaped the rivalry between the Super Eagles and the Cheetahs.
Nigeria 3–0 Benin, AFCON qualifier (April 1991)
In 1991, Nigeria were in transition; a team brimming with raw domestic talent preparing to conquer Africa. Benin, then known as the ‘Squirrels,' were ambitious but inexperienced.
The two nations met in the qualifiers for the 1992 Africa Cup of Nations, with Nigeria winning the first leg 1–0 in Cotonou thanks to strike by Jatau Ishaya. The return leg in Lagos would be a statement of intent.
By the 30th minute, the game was effectively over. Samson Siasia struck early in the 3rd minute, Friday Ekpo added another in the 20th, and Daniel Amokachi completed the rout ten minutes later.
That Super Eagles’ win eliminated Benin, although, it was quickly overshadowed by Nigeria’s 7-1 victory over Burkina Faso three months.
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Nigeria 2–1 Benin, 2004 AFCON (in Tunisia)
When Benin finally qualified for their first Africa Cup of Nations in 2004, they were handed a baptism of fire and placed in the same group as Nigeria.
Led by Austin ‘Jay-Jay' Okocha, Nigeria were among the tournament favourites. Benin, meanwhile, arrived as wide-eyed debutants. But on the pitch in Sfax, they refused to be overawed.
Garba Lawal opened the scoring for Nigeria before John Utaka doubled the lead after the break. Benin pulled one back late through Moussa Latoundji, but it proved a consolation.
Nigeria’s 2–1 win sent them into the knockout stages, while Benin exited without a point. Still, for the Cheetahs, the mere presence at that tournament marked progress.
Nigeria 2–0 Benin, 2008 AFCON (in Ghana)
Four years later, Benin returned with vengeance in mind. Drawn again with Nigeria, this time alongside Côte d’Ivoire and Mali, the Cheetahs sensed an opportunity.
Nigeria, under Berti Vogts, had struggled to find rhythm. A draw or defeat to Benin in the final group game would have sent them home early.
But on a tense afternoon in Sekondi, Chelsea midfielder John Mikel Obi's header in the 52nd minute gave Nigeria the lead.
Yakubu Aiyegbeni sealed the win late on, ensuring Nigeria’s survival and eventual quarter-final spot.
Benin were again brave but outgunned, yet the match revealed how much closer they were getting to bridging the gap.
Nigeria 1–0 Benin, 2010 AFCON (in Angola)
By 2010, Benin were no longer minnows. They had faced Nigeria often enough to know how to frustrate them and did so brilliantly in Benguela.
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After losing 3–1 to Egypt in their opening game, the Super Eagles were desperate for a response. Benin, who had drawn their opener 2–2, smelled vulnerability.
What followed was one of the fiercest battles between the two nations — full of tackles, tension, and tactical discipline.
The breakthrough came just before halftime when Yakubu Aiyegbeni converted from the penalty spot. Nigeria held on grimly for a 1–0 victory that steadied their campaign. It was narrow, nervy, and hard-earned; exactly the kind of win that defines old African rivalries.
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Benin 2–1 Nigeria, World Cup qualifier (Abidjan, 2024)
The balance of power finally shifted in 2024 during the current World Cup qualifying campaign.
Gernot Rohr, the man who had once led Nigeria to the World Cup and AFCON semi-finals, returned as Benin’s head coach — and masterminded an unforgettable upset.
Raphael Onyedika’s 26th-minute goal had put Nigeria ahead, but Jodel Dossou equalised soon after before Steve Mounié struck on the stroke of halftime.
It finished 2–1; Benin’s first-ever victory over Nigeria. For Rohr, it was poetic justice. For Nigeria, a haunting low point.
Though the Super Eagles avenged that loss with a 3–0 win later that year and a 1–1 draw in a subsequent AFCON qualifier, that defeat in Abidjan remains a scar. It reminded Nigeria that football dominance, no matter how historic, is never permanent.
