In a stunning turn of events, Nigeria’s Super Eagles suffered a 2-1 defeat to the Gernot Rohr-coached Cheetahs of Benin Republic during a crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier on Monday evening in Abidjan. This latest setback leaves the Super Eagles winless in their last four matches, after drawing their first three games in the qualifying series.
The Super Eagles, once again, found themselves trailing at halftime. Despite a sluggish start, they took an early lead with Raphael Onyedika scoring his first international goal. However, a defensive lapse by Calvin Bassey allowed Jodel Dossou to equalize for the Cheetahs.
As the first half drew to a close, Brest attacker Steve Mounie capitalized on a corner kick, blasting the ball into the net in the third minute of added time, putting Benin in the lead.
In an attempt to turn the tide, Coach Finidi George introduced Victor Boniface and Paul Onuachu, replacing the ineffective Terem Moffi and Alex Iwobi. The Super Eagles continued to struggle with communication and coordination, as evidenced by a missed opportunity between Ademola Lookman and Onuachu from a Chukwueze cross in the 54th minute.
Further changes saw Ibrahim Olawoyin make his debut, replacing Samuel Chukwueze, while the injured Bright Osayi-Samuel was substituted by another debutant, Ismaila Sodiq. Despite these adjustments, the Super Eagles found it challenging to break down the resilient Benin defense.
A notable moment came in the 66th minute when a scramble in the Benin box ended with the Cheetahs clearing their lines for a corner kick. The Eagles’ desperation grew as Stanley Nwabali made a crucial save in the 69th minute to prevent another goal-scoring opportunity for Benin.
The tension peaked in the 80th minute when Boniface and Onuachu collided, squandering another chance for Nigeria. Olawoyin’s delivery saw Lookman’s header deflected off a Beninese defender for a corner kick, and in the dying moments, Lookman missed an opportunity to either shoot or pass to Onuachu, resulting in yet another corner.
Gabonese referee Pierre Ghislain Atcho blew the final whistle after five minutes of added time, confirming Nigeria’s defeat. The Super Eagles now sit precariously with three points from four matches, while Benin tops Group C with seven points.
Looking ahead, the Super Eagles will need to regroup and strategize for their upcoming matches in March 2025. They are set to travel to Kigali to face Rwanda, followed by a home match against Zimbabwe. With their World Cup hopes hanging in the balance, the Super Eagles must find a way to secure victories in their next fixtures.
Stay tuned for more updates and analysis on Nigeria’s journey to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
