Benin Republic Beats Nigeria 2-1 in World Cup Qualifier
The Cheetahs of Benin Republic have pulled off a major shock by defeating Nigeria’s Super Eagles 2-1 in a World Cup qualifier in Abidjan on Monday.
According to arise.tv, the Nigerians drew their earlier three games in the group and remain fifth in the six-team group, four points behind group leaders Benin, with six games still left to play.
The Super Eagles delegation, led by President of Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, arrived in Abidjan, capital of Cote d’Ivoire for Monday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup African qualification series Day 4 encounter against the Cheetahs of Benin Republic.
The Super Eagles delegation included 23 players, technical and administrative officials, a few members of the NFF Executive Committee and Management, and a couple of media representatives. They flew aboard a chartered ValueJet aircraft from the Obong Victor Attah Airport in Uyo and landed at the Aeroport Felix Houphouet-Boigny at noon on Sunday.
Lying in a strange fifth place in the six-team Group C after three rounds of matches, the Super Eagles expected a win against the Cheetahs on Monday evening to keep them seriously in the hunt for a place at the World Cup finals to be jointly hosted by Canada, USA and Mexico in two years’ time.
In his pre match interview, Coach Finidi George had
told thenff.com on arrival: “We’re very much aware of why we are here and what we have to do. The players want to go to the World Cup and they have resolved to give their all in every game going forward. We had our opportunities against South Africa on Friday and should have won, but that is gone and we face another challenge now.
“We have resolved not to look too far ahead in this race. The essence is to take it one match at a time. Benin Republic is in our front now, and we must deal with that squarely.”
With only three points from their first three matches of the campaign, and going up against the Cheetahs who boast four points, the Eagles know they must fire on all cylinders and recreate the happy moments of the AFCON at the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny – where they won all three matches played there during the Africa Cup of Nations finals earlier in the year.
