Nigeria could potentially miss the 2026 World Cup after the Super Eagles failed to beat Benin Republic’s Cheetahs in their World Cup qualifier contest Monday evening at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Abidjan, Cote ‘d Ivoire.
Benin fought back after Raphael Onyedika had put Nigeria ahead in the 27th minute and it was surprising to see the Super Eagles so easily buckle under pressure when the Cheetahs turned on the heat. Kevin Bassey failed to clear, allowing Jodel Dossou to steal the ball, drove into the box and jabbed in the equalising goal in the 37th minute. Steve Mounie twisted in the knife just before the break following another defensive mix-up to consign the Super Eagles to their first defeat in the group after drawing their first three games.
In the second half the Super Eagles searched for the equaliser and possible the winning goal, but a string of misses by a team which seem to be out of depth failed to find the same level of competitiveness with which they beat Cote ‘d Ivoire, Guinea Bissau and Cameroon at the same venue during the Africa Cup of Nations.
Samuel Chukwueze who set up the goal for Onyedika delivered a superb cross into the box, but Ademola Lookman missed with his header, he could have let the ball float to Paul Onuachu who was better placed to nod the ball in. Onuachu himself had the chance to score but his header flew wide off the goal.
Benin now top the group C qualifier with seven points with games still to come Tuesday for South Africa v Zimbabwe and Lesotho v Rwanda. Nigeria will play Rwanda away on March 25 next, they need to win all the remaining matches to stay in contention for qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup billed for June 11 to July 19. It will be jointly hosted by 16 cities in three North American countries: Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
