Benin vs Nigeria LIVE! AFCON qualifier match stream, latest team ...
Upset: Benin stunned Nigeria in a World Cup qualifier over the summer
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Nigeria can book their spot at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco as they take on Benin in their penultimate qualifying tie tonight. The undefeated Super Eagles currently sit top of Group D with a four-point buffer to this evening’s opponents after being awarded the victory from their boycotted match in Libya last month and need only a draw to guarantee a place at the finals ahead of their concluding game at home to Rwanda in Uyo on Monday.
Thursday’s game is being played at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Abidjan, the city in which Nigeria painfully lost this year’s AFCON final to hosts Ivory Coast back in February. They will look to banish those agonising memories by emerging victorious tonight, with star striker Victor Osimhen back in a strong side after missing the last international break through injury, while Gabriel Osho is handed a debut.
But they could face a tough test against Benin, who are second in the group but only a point ahead of Rwanda as they look to qualify for AFCON for the first time since reaching the 2019 quarter-finals, having famously beaten the Super Eagles in World Cup qualifying over the summer under the guidance of ex-Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr. Follow Benin vs Nigeria live below!
Benin vs Nigeria latest news
64 mins: Benin are beginning to live dangerously in Abidjan as Aina works his way down the right and then delivers a cross into the six-yard box that a stretching Osimhen can only toe into the path of goalkeeper Danjinou.
61 mins: Much better from Nigeria as an incisive move ends up with Onyemaechi taking a touch outside the box before dispatching a powerful low drive inches wide of the post.
What a time that would have been for the Boavista left-back to register his first Super Eagles goal.
56 mins: Now a defensive error from Nigeria just moments later!
Olaitan looks to take full advantage, but his low strike is arrowed wide of the back post.
Another huge chance for 2-0 for Benin.
55 mins: Almost an absolute calamity at the back from Benin as an attempted header back to Danjinou lets in Lookman, who is beaten to the ball by the goalkeeper.
The initial clearance is straight up into the air and Danjinou is able to win a header up against Osimhen outside his box, and then safely regather.
53 mins: A really flat start to this second half for Nigeria.
The changes in personnel and system are yet to pay off with Osimhen rightly flagged offside again.
49 mins: A free-kick in a nice position for Benin after a foul on Dokou.
It’s a short one and is absolutely hammered wide.
Here come Benin again and Hassane slices wide at the back post.
That was a real chance for 2-0 early in this second half.
It looks like Nigeria have gone from 3-4-3 to a 4-3-3 system.
Debutant Osho and Iheanacho were the players to go off at the break.
Back underway in Ivory Coast.
Two half-time changes from Nigeria, with Moses Simon and Raphael Onyedika both introduced.
The players are emerging back onto the pitch at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium.
No doubt a stern half-time team talk from interim Nigeria boss Austin Eguavoen.
It’s worth noting, however, that Libya’s 1-0 win over Rwanda in Kigali earlier on means that Nigeria’s place at AFCON 2025 is now already guaranteed.
They need a draw to ensure top spot in Group D.
Half-time in Abidjan and a difficult night for Nigeria so far in tough conditions.
Though they started the game well and have shown flashes of intent, they trail at the interval courtesy of that early Mohamed Tijani header from a corner that was against the run of play at the time.
But Benin have mostly been good value for the lead since then, aside from a golden headed chance for Victor Osimhen that he somehow steered wide.
A pretty decent game overall, and more goals to come you feel.
Nigeria only need a draw to qualify for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco, remember. But work to do even to achieve that at the moment.
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