Benin vs Nigeria: 2026 W/Cup CAF Group C qualifier match preview, prediction
Benin vs Nigeria in final 2026 World Cup qualifier match. Photo Credit- Vanguard
The curtain falls on the 2026 FIFA World Cup African qualifiers with a pulsating Group C finale as Benin Republic travel to face Nigeria at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium on Tuesday, October 14, kicking off at 5:00 PM local time (4:00 PM GMT). Benin, perched atop the standings with 17 points from nine matches, need just a draw to secure their maiden World Cup ticket, a historic milestone for the Squirrels under former Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr. Nigeria, third with 14 points after a gritty 2-1 win over Lesotho on October 10, require a victory by at least two goals to level on points with Benin and leapfrog them on goal difference, all while praying for a South African slip against Rwanda. This West African derby, laced with irony given Rohr’s five-year stint with the Super Eagles, promises tension in a group where every goal could echo across the continent.
Benin Republic recent performances
Benin’s campaign has been a masterclass in resilience and tactical nous, transforming them from perennial underdogs to frontrunners chasing a debut at the global stage. Under Rohr, the Cheetahs have amassed five wins, two draws, and two losses, scoring 12 goals while conceding just seven, a defensive masterstroke that has kept them unbeaten in their last four qualifiers (three wins, one draw). Their recent form screams momentum: a commanding 4-0 home thrashing of Lesotho on September 9, a narrow 1-0 victory over Zimbabwe on September 5 courtesy of Steve Mounié’s late strike, and a hard-fought 1-0 away win against Rwanda on October 10, sealed by Tosin Aiyegun’s 78th-minute winner. This run has elevated Benin from mid-table mediocrity to leaders, with Mounié’s five qualifier goals underscoring their counter-attacking threat. Yet, for all their grit, Benin’s away record remains a concern, only one win in five road games, making Uyo a potential banana skin in their quest to end a 65-year World Cup absence.
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Nigeria recent form
Nigeria’s Super Eagles, by contrast, embody frustration tempered by flickers of revival, their path to 2026 marred by draws that have squandered early promise. Eric Chelle’s side sit with three wins, five draws, and one loss, netting 11 goals but leaking eight in a campaign that echoes their painful 2022 playoff exit to Ghana. Recent outings highlight the Jekyll-and-Hyde nature: a morale-boosting 2-0 win over Rwanda on September 6 (thanks to Tolu Arokodare’s strike after Victor Osimhen’s early exit), a gut-wrenching 1-1 draw with Zimbabwe on September 9 (Osimhen’s header undone by a 90th-minute Tawanda Chirewa equalizer), and the vital 2-1 triumph against Lesotho, where William Troost-Ekong’s penalty and Akor Adams’ finish edged a late rally. Unbeaten in their last four (two wins, two draws), Nigeria’s home form, three wins in four, offers hope, but their blunt finishing (just one goal in three of the last five games) has left them outsiders in a race revived only by South Africa’s three-point deduction for fielding ineligible Teboho Mokoena.
Cheetahs tactics
Tactically, Rohr’s Benin will lean on a disciplined 4-3-3 that morphs into a compact 5-4-1 away, prioritizing midfield solidity with Sessi d’Almeida’s energy and quick transitions via Jodel Dossou and Mounié to exploit spaces. Their low block has frustrated bigger sides, conceding under one goal per game on average, while set-pieces, where Cedric Hountondji looms large, pose threats.
Super Eagles tactics
Chelle, meanwhile, favors a fluid 4-2-3-1 for Nigeria, built on midfield dominance through Wilfred Ndidi and Alex Iwobi, feeding Osimhen’s aerial prowess and the flanks’ pace with Moses Simon and Samuel Chukwueze. The Super Eagles press high at home, averaging 55% possession, but vulnerabilities in transition, exposed by Zimbabwe’s late sting, could invite Benin’s counters. Rohr’s intimate knowledge of Nigeria’s stars adds layers, potentially neutralizing Osimhen early as he did in Benin’s shock 2-1 June 2024 qualifier win.
Benin team news and injuries
Benin, however, face a double midfield blow: Sessi d’Almeida and Yohan Roche are out suspended from their Rwanda bookings, forcing Rohr to reshuffle with Hassane Imourane and Douko Dodo stepping in. Forward Jojea Kwizera is fit post-muscle tweak, but promising talent Rodolfo Aloko is a long-term knee doubt.
Nigeria team news and injuries
Team news tilts slightly toward Nigeria’s depth, though suspensions sting both camps. For the Super Eagles, Ademola Lookman is suspended after a second yellow against Lesotho, while Ola Aina remains sidelined by a September injury, prompting Zaidu Sanusi at left-back and Chukwueze to fill the creative void. Osimhen returns fit, partnering Terem Moffi up top, with no fresh injury concerns for goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali or captain Troost-Ekong.
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Benin vs Nigeria head-to-head statistics
Nigeria dominate with nine wins in 12 meetings (two for Benin, one draw), including a 3-0 AFCON qualifier rout in 2024, though Benin’s recent 2-1 upset adds spice, matches average 2.3 goals, often low-scoring affairs.
Benin vs Nigeria score prediction
In this high-wire act, Nigeria’s home firepower and desperation edge the scales, but Benin’s organization under Rohr screams upset potential. A predicted 2-0 Super Eagles win would vault them to glory if Rwanda oblige, though a cagey 1-1 draw feels plausible given the stakes. Alternative: 2-1 to Nigeria if Osimhen strikes twice. As Group C’s fate hangs in Uyo’s humid air, one thing’s certain, this clash will etch itself into African football lore.
