In a stunning upset, the Cheetahs of Benin Republic defeated Nigeria’s Super Eagles 2-1 in a World Cup qualifier held in Abidjan on Monday.
For the second consecutive match, the Super Eagles entered the second half trailing. Though the Eagles did not have a strong start, Raphael Onyedika gave them an early lead with his first international goal. However, a costly mistake by Calvin Bassey allowed Jodel Dossou to equalize for Benin.
Just before halftime, in the third minute of added time, Brest forward Steve Mounie capitalized on a defensive lapse to blast the ball into the net following a corner kick, putting Benin ahead 2-1.
Despite intense pressure from Nigeria in the second half, Benin managed to hold on to their lead and secured a famous victory. Historically, Nigeria had dominated Benin, winning 11 of their previous 13 encounters, with the other two ending in draws.
However, the Super Eagles have struggled under new coach Finidi George, earning just 4 points from their first 4 matches in this World Cup qualifying campaign.
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This unexpected result leaves Nigeria in fifth place in Group C, 4 points behind Benin, who are at the top of the table with only 4 matches remaining. Missing out on the 2026 World Cup would be a significant setback for Nigerian football, as they have qualified for the last four tournaments.
The night belonged to the determined Benin team, with unheralded players like Dossou and Mounie celebrating wildly after the final whistle.
The next set of matches will take place in March 2025, with Nigeria traveling to Kigali to face Rwanda and then hosting Zimbabwe.
