Nigeria vs. Benin Republic match preview: AFCON qualifier showdown in Uyo
The Super Eagles of Nigeria are set to begin their campaign for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with a crucial qualifier against West African neighbors Benin Republic on Saturday, September 7, at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo.
This highly anticipated match will mark the second meeting between the two sides in just four months, following their June World Cup qualifying encounter, where Benin pulled off a surprising 2-1 victory.
In their last meeting, Nigeria took an early lead through Raphael Onyedika just before the half-hour mark. However, the Cheetahs of Benin quickly turned the game around, with Jodel Dossou equalizing 10 minutes later and Steve Mounie securing the win with a goal in first-half stoppage time. This defeat led to the demotion and eventual resignation of then-Super Eagles head coach Finidi George, setting off a chain of events that left the coaching position in turmoil.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) attempted to appoint German coach Bruno Labbadia as the new head coach, but the deal fell through due to contractual disagreements. As a result, Austin Eguavoen was appointed interim coach, marking his third stint with the team. Eguavoen now faces the challenge of restoring confidence and leading the Super Eagles to victory in this crucial qualifier.
This match will be the eighth encounter between Nigeria and Benin Republic, with the Super Eagles having won six times compared to the Cheetahs’ two victories. Notably, former Nigeria head coach Gernot Rohr, now in charge of Benin, masterminded the Cheetahs’ win in their last meeting, adding an extra layer of intrigue to this fixture.
Nigeria will be bolstered by the return of key players, including Galatasaray’s new striker Victor Osimhen and AFCON 2023 Player of the Tournament William Troost-Ekong, both of whom missed the June qualifiers due to injuries. Taiwo Awoniyi, who was absent from the last AFCON due to injury and missed the June matches, is also back in the squad.
However, Fenerbahce defender Bright Osayi-Samuel, initially named in the squad, has withdrawn due to injury and has been replaced by Crawley Town’s newly signed defender Benjamin Tanimu.
For Benin, scorers from the last encounter, Jodel Dossou and Steve Mounie, headline their squad. Additionally, Bachirou Sika of Coton FC and Samadou Attidjikou of Bani Ganse FC have received their first call-ups, adding fresh options to the team.
Nigeria Predicted Lineup (4-3-3):
Nwabali (GK); Aina, Ekong, Ajayi, Bassey; Ndidi, Onyedika, Iwobi; Lookman, Osimhen, Simon
Benin Predicted Lineup (4-3-3):
Dandjinou (GK); Moumini, Hountondji, Tijani, Kiki; Dokou, D’Almeida, Imourane; Dossou, Mounie, Olaitan
The match promises to be a tightly contested affair, with Nigeria looking to start their AFCON qualification campaign on a strong note, while Benin will aim to replicate their success from June.
