The Super Eagles during the match.
The 1-2 defeat has however cast doubt on the ability of Finidi George to manage a highly rated Super Eagles who played final in the last edition of AFCON
By Valentine Amanze
Nigerian football has hit its lowest ebb, as the Super Eagles, could not prey on Benin Republic, losing 1-2 in a 2026 World Cup qualifying match in Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny, Abidjan on Monday June 10, 2024.
It was the first time the Super Eagles of Nigeria lost to Benin Republic, the lowly-rated nation in world football, in a competitive football.
Incidently, the Super Eagles were rubbished by the Cheetahs of Benin Republic at their adopted home,
Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny, Abidjan, Ivory Coast, where, , the Nigerian team played three of their seven AFCON 2023 matches.
Super Eagles Coach Finidi George | File Image
The Super Eagles struck first in the 27th minute through Belgium-based Raphael Onyedika, while Jodel Dossou equalized for the Cheetahs in the 37th minute through a defensive error by Calvin Bassey.
Steve Mounie made it two for the Cheetahs jn the 45th minute, resulting from poor defending of a cornerkick.
Also read: World Cup 2026: Super Eagles, Bafana Bafana draw 1-1 in Uyo
Super Eagles coach, Finidi George, made three changes to the team that was held to a 1-1 draw by South Africa in Uyo on Friday June 7, 2024.
The injured Fisayo Dele-Bashiru was replaced by Club Brugge’s Raphael Onyedika; Terem Moffi started ahead of Paul Onuachu; and Samuel Chukwueze came in for Kelechi Iheanacho.
The visitors dominated possession in the opening exchanges, but as has been a trend recently, their final third play was imprecise and shoddy.
The best chance borne out of the early superiority came around the 14th minute when Ademola Lookman slipped in Osayi-Samuel, who in turn, curled the ball past Marcel Dandjinou, but the attempt was too wide.
The 1-2 defeat has however cast doubt on the ability of Finidi George to manage a highly rated Super Eagles who played final in the last edition of AFCON.
Nigeria now risks missing out on consecutive World Cup for the first time since their first outing in 1994 after the defeat.
The Super Eagles needed to beat the Cheetahs to keep their World Cup qualification dreams alive after three consecutive draws left them fifth on the log.
By losing to Gernot Rohr’s side, Nigeria remain fifth on the log but are now four points away from the summit, which could become five if Lesotho beat Rwanda.
valoa2000@yahoo.com
