World Cup qualification: Super Eagles hope dims after 2-1 loss to Cheetahs of Benin Republic

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The hope of the qualification of the Super Eagles for the World Cup was dimmed when the Cheetahs of Benin Republic beat.them 2-1 in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, on Monday.

The Super Eagles needed to beat the Cheetah after their three consecutive draws left them fifth on the log.

However, with the loss to Gernot Rohr’s side, Nigeria remain fifth on the table, with four points.

Many Nigerians believed the Super Eagles would beat Benin Republic team, especially as they were returning to a familiar place in Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny, Abidjan, where they played three of their seven AFCON 2023 games.

Finidi George made three changes to the team that were held to a draw by South Africa. 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 deadlock was eventually broken in the 27th minute when Samuel Chukwueze was found in the channel on the left side of Benin Republic’s defence. The AC Milan man cut it back to Onyedika, who needed time to sort out his feet, and while the danger looked to have been contained, with two Beninois charging at him, the Club Brugge midfielder, with minimal backlift, curled the ball into the far-right corner.

Conceding seemed to spur on the hosts, who had since been kept quiet by the doggedness of the Super Eagles, who were defending in packs. The first sign of danger came from a set piece routine when Steve Mounie found himself 1v1 against Nwabali, however, he was offside.

In the 37th minute, however, Jodel Dossou capitalised on questionable defending from the Nigerian backline, before calmly slotting past the outrushing Nwabali.

Just before half-time Gernot Rohr’s side shocked the Super Eagles. A wicked delivery from the corner kick spot was poorly cleared by Onyedika, who could only flick it into the back post. Benin Republic’s 14-goal talisman, Steve Mounie, was instinctively positioned as he pounced on the loose ball to give the hosts the lead.

Finidi was forced to make early second-half changes as he brought on two strikers, Paul Onuachu and Victor Boniface for Terem Moffi and Alex Iwobi. The Super Eagles continued to forray forward for an equaliser and came agonisingly close when Ademola Lookman’s glancing header from a Chukwueze in-swinger went wide.

Nigeria pressed for an equaliser but continued to lack fluency in the final third. Benin Republic held on for a famous victory over their next-door neighbours and now lead the way in Group C.