The Super Eagles of Nigeria faced a disappointing setback in their quest for World Cup qualification, succumbing to a 2-1 defeat against Benin Republic at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan on Monday.
The Eagles were caught off guard by the resilient performance of the Beninese team, which left them languishing in fifth place in Group C with a slim chance of securing a spot in the 2026 World Cup.
Entering the match on the back of a 1-1 draw against South Africa, Super Eagles head coach George Finidi made two changes to the starting lineup, with Raphael Onyedika replacing Fisayo Dele-Bashiru in midfield and Terem Moffi starting ahead of Paul Onuachu.
Nigeria showed glimpses of promise in the early stages of the game, taking the lead in the 27th minute when Onyedika unleashed a powerful shot from the edge of the Benin goal area.
However, Benin Republic swiftly responded, capitalizing on a defensive lapse from Calvin Bassey as Jodel Dossou found the back of the net to level the score.
The momentum shifted in favor of the Squirrels moments later when Steve Mounie capitalized on a loose ball inside the Nigerian goal area, putting Benin ahead with a decisive strike.
The defeat leaves the Super Eagles in fifth place in the qualification group, with three points from four games, only ranking above Zimbabwe, which has a game in hand.
