As Nigeria gears up for their crucial World Cup qualifier match against Benin Republic, coach George Finidi has made some notable changes to the starting lineup.
Striker Paul Onuachu, who led the attack in the previous match against South Africa, finds himself on the bench this time, while Samuel Chukwueze and Terem Moffi have been tasked with spearheading the Nigerian offense.
The match is scheduled to take place on Wednesday at 5 pm (WAT) at Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny in Cote d’Ivoire. With only three points from three games, the Super Eagles are in dire need of a victory to boost their chances of qualifying for the World Cup.
The decision to bench Onuachu reflects the coach’s strategy to shake things up and inject new energy into the team. A win over the Benin Republic, managed by former Nigerian coach Gernot Rohr, would propel Nigeria to six points in the Group C qualification standings.
Following a disappointing 1-1 draw with South Africa last Friday, Nigeria currently sits in fifth place in the qualification log. However, a victory against the Cheetahs is essential to keep their World Cup hopes alive.
The stakes are high as the race for World Cup qualification intensifies. While the winner of the group will secure a spot in the competition, the four second-placed teams will face off in a playoff to determine Africa’s representatives in the inter-continental play-off.
