Benin Suffer Major Blow Ahead of World Cup Qualifier Against Nigeria

Benin will face the Super Eagles of Nigeria without two of their key players in Tuesday’s 2026 World Cup qualifier — a development that could benefit their Group C rivals.

Midfielder Sessi D’Almeida and defender Yohan Roche are both suspended after receiving yellow cards in Benin’s 1–1 draw against Rwanda on Friday. D’Almeida was booked in the 84th minute, while Roche was shown a yellow card deep into stoppage time, ruling both players out of the crucial match in Abidjan.

The absence of the two dependable players comes at a difficult time for Benin, who currently sit top of Group C but have not yet secured qualification. Their suspension could serve as a boost for Nigeria and South Africa, who are both fighting to qualify for next year’s global tournament.

Nigeria, who are chasing a vital win to improve their qualification hopes, will be happy to face a weakened Benin side. South Africa, meanwhile, will be hoping the Super Eagles win, but they must also beat Rwanda to take full advantage of a possible Benin defeat.

However, the Super Eagles also have a setback of their own. Forward Ademola Lookman, recently crowned CAF African Footballer of the Year, will miss the match through suspension after receiving a yellow card in the 2–1 victory over Lesotho.

In Lookman’s absence, head coach Eric Chelle is expected to hand a starting role to Samuel Chukwueze as Nigeria aim for a crucial result against their West African neighbours.

The final Group C fixtures promise to be decisive, with none of the teams yet guaranteed a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.