Nigeria is under pressure to win the final Nigeria vs. Benin World Cup qualifier, which will decide Africa’s final direct qualification berth, while Benin needs just one point to make history in a thrilling West African matchup.
In the FIFA World Cup, Nigeria hosts Benin in a winner-take-all Nigeria vs. Benin World Cup qualifier on Tuesday, setting the stage for one of the most dramatic finishes to African World Cup qualification. The game at Godswill Akpabio International Stadium promises high-stakes football drama, with Nigeria needing to win to maintain their hopes of qualifying, and Benin dominating Group C and needing just a draw to guarantee their first-ever World Cup berth.
Nigeria vs. Benin: Group C Standings and Qualification Scenarios
The final matchday finds Group C perfectly poised for a dramatic conclusion:
Current Standings:
- Benin: 17 points (+5 GD)
- South Africa: 15 points (+3 GD)
- Nigeria: 14 points (+3 GD)
Qualification Scenarios:
- Benin qualifies with: Win OR draw OR loss combined with South Africa dropping points
- Nigeria qualifies with: Win combined with South Africa dropping points against Rwanda
- South Africa qualifies with: Win against Rwanda combined with Benin loss
The mathematics are clear for Nigeria: anything less than victory ends their World Cup dreams, while Benin can make history with a single point.
Nigeria vs Benin Team News and Key Absences
Nigeria Super Eagles:
The suspension of 2024 African Ballon d’Or winner Ademola Lookman, who received his second yellow card during the 2-1 victory over Lesotho, is a serious setback for coach Eric Chelle. Victor Osimhen returns to spearhead the assault, while defender Ola Aina is still out.
Expected Nigeria Lineup (4-2-3-1):
Nwabali; Fredrick Troost-Ekong, Bassey, Onyemaechi; Iwobi Ndidi; Simon Chukwueze; Arokodare Osimhen
Benin Cheetahs:
The entire Nigerian team is available under former coach Gernot Rohr, and Steve Mounie, the captain, has stated that “we will give everything to take Benin to the World Cup.” Stability comes from their 1-0 victory over Rwanda, which left their backline unaltered.
Expected Benin Lineup (4-2-3-1):
Dandjinou; Ouorou, Verdon, Tijani, Roche; D’Almeida, Imourane; Dossou, Dokou, Hountondji; Mounie
Historical Context and Head-to-Head
The Super Eagles are in a strong position in the Nigeria vs. Benin rivalry; since 2004, they have won nine of their twelve meetings, while Benin has only won twice. Benin, however, has a psychological edge going into this important matchup because they won their last meeting 2-1 in June 2024.
The game’s historic significance was highlighted by Benin captain Steve Mounie, who scored the game-winning goal in their previous encounter: “We play football for this kind of match. This meeting will be momentous.
The Osimhen Factor and Nigeria’s Emergency Landing
“Benin is the favorite to win, and we will be underdogs against them,” Super Eagles player Victor Osimhen said, acknowledging the pressure. It simply doesn’t go together because we have been playing a horrible game for our standards.”
The Nigerian team’s preparation for this crucial match was made more difficult when their jet from South Africa had to make an emergency landing in Angola because of a damaged windshield.
African World Cup Qualification Format
Five teams—Algeria, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, and Tunisia—have already guaranteed their positions out of the nine direct qualification spots available from Africa. The Nigeria vs. Benin World Cup qualifier is the hottestly contested match, and the remaining four slots will be determined on Tuesday’s last matchday.
In November 2025, the four top runners-up will move on to the interconfederation playoffs for a possible tenth African slot.
FAQs
Nigeria must beat Benin AND hope South Africa drops points against Rwanda to have any chance of qualification.
Benin qualifies with a win OR a draw, or even with a loss if South Africa fails to beat Rwanda.
Benin won 2-1 on June 10, 2024, with Steve Mounie scoring the winner.
Nigeria has qualified for 6 World Cups but missed the 2022 tournament in Qatar.
No, this would be Benin’s first World Cup appearance if they qualify.
All final group matches kick off simultaneously, though specific times vary by timezone.
Who do you think will qualify for the World Cup—can Nigeria pull off the miracle, or will Benin make history? Share your predictions in the comments!
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