Benin vs Nigeria WCQ - The Surprise that Awaits Super Eagles in Abidjan

 

Nigeria national team arrives Cote d’Ivoire for today's 2026 FIFA World Cup African qualification series match day 4 encounter against Benin Republic.

Knowing or unknowing, Super Eagles may be walking into a trap as the Cheetahs of Benin lay siege against their close neighbors at far away Abidjan. 

After the Nigerian side struggled  to draw against South Africa at home, the Benin boys suddenly gained more confidence and believe they can easily clip the wings of the overrated Nigerian eagles. 

The former Nigerian head coach, Gernot Rohr, who is now the driver of Benin Republic national team says he understands to a great extent the weak points of the eagles, and that the Nigerian side will not escape defeat in Abidjan. He insisted that Super Eagles have not  improved nor changed that much since he was relieved of the Job. 

It sounds like a  personal vendetta to a team he so loved, but was unjustly relieved of the job. He is a professional he said, and must do his duty for his employers. Though, he still love the Nigerian boys, but not so with Nigerian football administrators. 

He understand the weaknesses of Super Eagles and would have to explore it, if for nothing, but to show it was a mistake to have sacked him. 

Lying in a strange fifth place in the six-team Group C after three rounds of matches, the Super Eagles of Nigeria know only a win against the Cheetahs on Monday evening will keep them seriously in the hunt for a place at the next World Cup finals to be jointly hosted by Canada, USA and Mexico in two years’ time.

Coach Finidi George 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. The 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 from 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 last Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals earlier in the year.

The Benin/Nigeria match will be play on Monday 10th June 2024, at 5pm Nigeria time. You can only watch live streaming on the Internet.