Image Source: Alamy Stock Photo
2026 World Cup qualifier
CAF Group C
Benin v Nigeria
Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium
Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Monday, 10 June 2024
Kick-off is at 17h00
Nigeria will be desperate to get their
2026 World Cup qualifying campaign up and running against Benin at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Abidjan on Monday, June 10.
The Super Eagles have struggled to get going in Group C after being tipped as favourites to advance as winners and they are down in fifth place with three matches played.
The group is wide open as the six teams are separated by just three points and Lesotho surprisingly occupy top spot, with Rwanda (2nd), Benin (3rd) and South Africa (4th) following closely behind.
Finidi George's side drew 1-1 with Bafana Bafana in Uyo on June 7 and have plenty of work to do in the group after also playing out to the same scoreline against the Crocodiles and the Warriors in November.
George defended his tactics and players after the stalemate with South Africa, pointing to the chances they created in the second half.
"Did you watch the second half? When you talk about quality, we created chances. Everybody wants his team to win but you have to play good football," the 53-year-old tactician said.
"You cannot just kick and run and when you score a goal you say you have won. We want to see attractive football, which we saw in the second half. Unfortunately, we could not get the goals.
"The quality, yes. If you create chances against a South African side of this kind of quality that they have, we cannot just talk about our quality.
"Like I said earlier, unfortunately, it is not the result that we wanted but we have to move on."
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The Cheetahs hold a trump card in Gernot Rohr, who knows the opposition well, having served as Nigeria's manager from 2016 to 2021 and guided them to the 2018 World Cup.
Rohr's side picked up their first win in the group as they beat the Wasps 1-0 on June 6 to stay above Bafana Bafana on goal difference.
Rohr worked with many of the players in the current Super Eagles squad and acknowledges their West African rivals are favourites, but he is plotting an upset in Ivory Coast's largest city.
"Nigeria is a great team. We are the underdogs, but we will play tomorrow to win," the German told the press in the lead-up to the clash with his former team.
Head-to-Head (Last Five Meetings)
Matches - 5
Benin wins - 0
Nigeria wins - 5
Draws - 0
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