AFCON 2025: Super Eagles Need One Point to Secure Qualification

Nigeria's Super Eagles are set to face Benin Republic's Cheetahs in an AFCON 2025 qualifier on Thursday at 8 p.m. The match will be held at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

Nigeria enters the game following a ruling on October 26 by CAF’s disciplinary committee, which awarded them three points and three goals after their previous qualifier against Libya was abandoned. The Nigerian team had been detained at Al-Abraq Airport for over 18 hours before the second leg match with the Libyan side.

Benin Republic comes into this game after a 2-1 loss to Rwanda. The last encounter between Nigeria and Benin was in September at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, where Nigeria won 3-0, with Ademola Lookman scoring twice and Victor Osimhen adding another goal.

Super Eagles caretaker coach, Augustine Eguavoen, has announced a 23-man squad for the qualifiers against Benin on Thursday and Rwanda on Monday in Uyo. Striker Victor Osimhen returns to the team after missing the last match due to injury.

Nigeria currently leads AFCON qualifier Group D with 10 points from four matches, followed by Benin Republic with six points. Rwanda holds five points, while Libya is at the bottom with one point. Nigeria needs just one point from their remaining matches against Benin and Rwanda to secure a place in AFCON 2025 in Morocco.

Isa Saleh, co-founder of Borno Junior League, believes the match will be tough but expects Nigeria to win and maintain their lead in Group D, highlighting the team's strong recent form. Former TTC Football Academy coach, Emmanuel Brown, is also confident in Nigeria's chances despite the home support Benin is expected to have in Ivory Coast. Brown praised the Super Eagles' attack, featuring Osimhen, Victor Boniface, and Lookman, and predicted a 2-1 victory for Nigeria.