On Tuesday, Nigeria hosts Benin again in Uyo. This match constitutes the last game of FIFA World Cup 2026 Confederation of African Football (CAF) first round. The stakes are high as Nigeria aims to secure a direct qualification spot for next year’s tournament, directly challenging Group C leaders Benin.
Benin leads Group C with a stellar 17 points and +5 GD. Nigeria are right on their heels, too, with 14 points on a goal difference of +3. The game represents a massive chance for Nigeria. Buoyed by one of the richest histories in football with six FIFA World Cup appearances, they were absent from the most recent tournament in Qatar in 2022.
Key Players and Injuries
Star forward Victor Osimhen has declared himself fit to take the field against Benin. He’s definitely got the hopes of all Nigerian fans riding with him. The team will be without key defender Ola Aina. His commitments to international rugby are the reason he’s currently sidelined with an injury suffered during the first game against South Africa on September 9. Furthermore, Ademola Lookman will miss the match due to suspension, and this development has sent both fans and coaches into a panic.
Despite these setbacks, Nigeria’s head coach Eric Chele remains optimistic about the team’s chances.
“The suspension [of Ademola Lookman] is unfortunate, but the team has the strength and character to win,” – Eric Chele, Nigeria head coach.
Chele’s confidence will be put on the line though, against a strong Benin side, who have already beaten Nigeria 2-1 in their most recent meeting. Raphael Onyedika opened the scoring to hand Nigeria a perfect start to the encounter. Benin rallied and clinched the victory, courtesy of a thundering strike from Steve Mounie.
The Journey to Uyo
Here’s a brief recount of the dramas that befell the Nigerian team as they traveled to Uyo for the match. Their connecting flight from South Africa had to make an emergency landing in Angola. Despite these difficulties, the team is focused on performing well in what could be a decisive match for their World Cup aspirations.
Benin’s head coach, Gernot Rohr can’t hide his excitement with the clash. He previously ran Nigeria from 2016 to 2021, which makes the anticipation all the more exciting.
“Yes, it will be a wonderful final in Uyo and it’s in our hands [to qualify for a historic first World Cup finals], which is unimaginable when you see Nigeria and South Africa behind us,” – Gernot Rohr, Benin head coach.
Rohr was hoping to salvage pride but he understood the daunting task that lay before his team in Nigeria. He reminded them to always keep their humility and to be prepared for a dogfight.
“But all can change in one game, the last game. So we are very humble and we know that we have to do it again, and it will be more difficult in Nigeria than in Rwanda. We know this, of course,” – Gernot Rohr, Benin head coach.
The Stakes of the Match
This clash in Uyo, Nigeria, is about a lot more than three points. It would be an incredible opportunity for Benin to achieve its first qualification for the FIFA World Cup! Should Benin claim a victory, it would ensure their qualification, sending the tiny nation to the World Cup for the first time. On the other hand, for Nigeria, nothing short of victory will suffice as they seek to enter the fray as likely contenders for a semifinal berth.
After the final training session on Tuesday, Osimhen spoke to thenff.com about Super Eagles’ inconsistency going into the game against Benin Republic.
“Against Benin, we will be underdogs, and Benin are the favourite to win. Because we have been playing a bad game for our standards, it just doesn’t come together,” – Victor Osimhen.
Even with that recognition of danger, Chele’s eyes are firmly on the prize as he continues to build belief in his newer squad.
“We cannot promise our fans much. But we will fight. This group keeps on giving – it doesn’t stop. We hope it will be our turn to be on top on Tuesday if we play our part as players. I don’t want to talk much about other things, but I am not happy [with] how we represent our country,” – Eric Chele, Nigeria head coach.
