Nigeria’s hopes to participate in the 2026 World Cup took a hit after a surprising 2-1 loss to Benin Republic in Abidjan.
This defeat marks the first loss for the Super Eagles in the qualifiers, leaving them second from bottom in Group C with only three points from four matches.
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Benin, led by former Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr, now tops the group with seven points.
The game started brightly for Nigeria, with Raphael Onyedika giving them the lead in the 27th minute.
However, Benin equalized in the 36th minute, and then took the lead just before halftime through Steve Mounie.
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Despite making attacking changes in the second half, Nigeria couldn’t find a way past the Béninoise defense.
Their frustration was evident as they failed to capitalize on scoring opportunities, including a header from Paul Onuachu that hit the crossbar in added time.
The match ended with Benin securing a crucial victory. The next round of qualifiers will resume in March 2025.