In a dramatic World Cup qualifying clash at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Nigeria fell to a 2-1 defeat against Benin, hampered by defensive lapses and missed opportunities. Despite a promising start, the Super Eagles were unable to capitalize on their early advantage, leaving their World Cup hopes in jeopardy.
The match began with Nigeria on the front foot, pushing Benin back with relentless pressure. In the 12th minute, Nigeria’s first significant chance came as Ademola Lookman set up Bright Osayi-Samuel, whose curling effort narrowly missed the far post. This early surge set the tone for what appeared to be a dominant performance from the Super Eagles.
Their persistence paid off in the 28th minute when Raphael Onyedika opened the scoring with a spectacular goal. Samuel Chukwueze delivered a precise pass, and Onyedika, despite some initial control issues, flicked the ball into the top-right corner with a deft touch. This was the 23-year-old’s first international goal, marking a memorable moment for the Nigerian midfielder.
However, Benin quickly responded. In the 37th minute, a defensive blunder by Calvin Bassey allowed Jodel Dossou to capitalize. Bassey misjudged the flight of the ball, letting Dossou slip past and poke it past Stanley Nwabali to level the score. Despite suffering a hamstring injury in the process, Dossou managed to continue after treatment.
Just before halftime, Benin struck again from a set-piece. A corner kick found its way to Steve Mounie, who capitalized on a chaotic situation in the Nigerian box to score. Mohamed Tijani’s slight touch wrong-footed the Nigerian defense, allowing Mounie to slam the ball home from close range. Nigeria went into the break trailing 2-1, courtesy of their defensive errors.
The second half saw Nigeria struggle to regain control. Benin almost added a third in the 48th minute when Steve Mounie was denied by a crucial tackle from Semi Ajayi. Nigeria’s manager, Finidi George, made several changes in an attempt to invigorate his side, including the introduction of Victor Osimhen and Paul Onuachu in the 51st minute.
Despite these adjustments, Nigeria’s attack failed to find its rhythm. A golden opportunity was squandered in the 55th minute when Ademola Lookman, unaware of Onuachu’s position behind him, misjudged a header from close range.
As the match progressed, Benin’s defense held firm, repelling successive Nigerian corners and frustrating their efforts. In the 77th minute, Nigeria’s woes were compounded as their captain, Wilfried Ndidi, was substituted for Alhassan Yusuf, while the team’s formation seemed increasingly disjointed.
The closing stages saw Nigeria desperately searching for an equalizer. In the 85th minute, Victor Osimhen nearly produced a moment of brilliance with a bicycle kick, but Benin’s defense managed to clear the danger. Mohamed Tijani’s timely tackle on Lookman in the 90th minute epitomized Benin’s resilient defensive performance.
Benin’s strategic substitutions and disciplined play ultimately saw them through to a crucial victory. The final whistle confirmed Nigeria’s defeat, leaving them in a precarious position in their quest for World Cup qualification. The result is a stark reminder of the challenges facing the Super Eagles as they look to regroup and recover in the remaining fixtures.
