The D-day is today. The Super Eagles’ day of reckoning. As the players try to accomplish the nearly impossible feat of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, the country is expected to offer prayers for them on this day.
Math, momentum, and madness will all be a part of this day, but there will also be drama, uncertainty, and heartache.
The Super Eagles’ final Group C matchup with the Cheetahs of Benin Republic in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifications will bring the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo to life.
The Super Eagles’ hopes of qualifying for the World Cup are in jeopardy, therefore they need to win and rely on other outcomes.
Nigeria has had a terrible 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign, with costly draws and lost opportunities that have left them requiring a miracle on the last day.
Some would have thought the Super Eagles could have to miss out on back-to-back championships after losing their ticket to arch-rivals Ghana and failing to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Since their 1994 World Cup debut, Nigeria has consistently qualified for subsequent tournaments.
Eric Chelle’s team is in third place going into the last round of Group C games with 14 points from nine games, having won three, drawn five, and lost one.
Their campaign has been uneven, with them scoring 11 goals and giving up eight.
Nigeria is one point behind second-place South Africa and three behind group leaders Benin.
With 14 points and a +3 goal differential, Nigeria is still in third place in the group. Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and Rwanda are mathematically eliminated from the competition.
The Super Eagles’ hopes of qualifying for the World Cup are in jeopardy, therefore they need to win and rely on other outcomes.
Nigeria has had a terrible 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign, with costly draws and lost opportunities that have left them requiring a miracle on the last day.
Some would have thought the Super Eagles could have to miss out on back-to-back championships after losing their ticket to arch-rivals Ghana and failing to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Since their 1994 World Cup debut, Nigeria has consistently qualified for subsequent tournaments.
The Super Eagles need South Africa to lose or draw at home against Rwanda in order to secure an automatic ticket, regardless of Nigeria’s outcome in the last match against Benin.
Nigeria must meet the following conditions in order to guarantee a spot in the 2026 World Cup if South Africa loses to Rwanda:
*The Super Eagles will win the group on away goals if Nigeria defeats Benin 1-0. In their first meeting, Nigeria scored in the Cheetahs’ 2-1 road loss.
*If Nigeria wins 2-1 over Benin, both teams will have the same record, and the winners of the group would be decided by a tie-breaker, like yellow or red cards.
*The Eagles will finish first in the group with a better goal differential if Nigeria defeats Benin 2-0. A resounding victory for Nigeria by a margin of two goals will be the finest outcome.
Beninese will qualify on away goals, nonetheless, if Nigeria loses to Benin and gives up several goals. Therefore, Nigeria will not automatically qualify if they win 3-2, 4-3, or 5-4.
Captain William Troost-Ekong and rookie Akor Adams’ goals in Friday’s 2-1 victory against Lesotho gave Chelle’s team a boost going into this match.
However, following a campaign marred by unforced mistakes and late collapses, they are now powerless to change their fate.
In contrast, Benin is on the verge of history. With 17 points from nine games—five wins, two draws, and two losses—the Gernot Rohr team is in first place in Group C.
Their strong defence has been essential to their ascent; they have scored 12 goals and given up seven.
The Cheetahs moved to the top of the standings after defeating Rwanda 1-0 last time out thanks to a goal from substitute Tosin Aiyegun.
Under Rohr, who oversaw Nigeria from 2016 to 2021, Benin has emerged as one of the qualifiers’ unexpected surprises, surpassing predictions and capitalising on South Africa’s previous penalty for fielding an ineligible player.
The Super Eagles’ first loss of the season and their first ever loss to their West African rivals in eight games (six victories, one tie) came in June 2024 when Benin defeated Nigeria 2-1 under Rohr’s leadership.
This pivotal matchup is made much more intriguing by that outcome.
Ademola Lookman, a current African football player, will not play for Nigeria because he was suspended after receiving a yellow card during the victory over Lesotho.
He has, however, made the decision to remain in order to provide his colleagues with the moral support they require in order to survive.
Ola Aina, the right-back, is still out due to an injury he acquired during the team’s 1-1 draw with South Africa during the previous international window.
Two of Benin Republic’s most important players, Sessi d’Almeida and Yohan Roche, will also be absent due to their second yellow cards in Friday’s hard-fought 1-0 victory over Rwanda, according to head coach Gernot Rohr.
Alex Iwobi is anticipated to play a significant part in midfield once more.
Tolu Arokodare and Victor Osimhen, the Super Eagles’ top scorer with three goals throughout the qualifying run, will be in the starting lineup up front, with Moses Simon and Samuel Chukwueze probably playing from the sides.
Nigerians anticipate that Eric Chelle would partner Osimhen up front with Akor Adams, who scored the game-winning goal in his debut against Lesotho.
Another guy who is guaranteed a shirt like Galatassary striker Osimhen is the striker for Sevilla. Adams gave the Super Eagles’ attack new life and energy, which is essential in a game this important today.
Stanley Nwabali should remain in goal despite his antics, while Captain William Troost-Ekong should partner Calvin Bassey, another Eagles warrior, in central defence.
Jodel Dossou will assist Steve Mounie in leading Benin’s assault.
Despite Nigeria’s difficulties, disobedience can occasionally be sparked by desperation. Despite being under a lot of strain, the Super Eagles have enough talent to make this a close game.
PLAYOFF SPOTS OPTION
To be among the top four second-place teams and guarantee a postseason berth, the Super Eagles need to rank second in the group.
Eritrea’s elimination from the qualifications could have given Nigeria another chance at survival. The withdrawal would complicate the process of calculating points for the playoff place.
The results against the sixth-place teams in their respective groups will be deducted from the overall number of points accrued by the nations competing for playoff positions, according to CAF.
Nigeria leads the head-to-head match, but Benin has the upper hand.
The Super Eagles have won 13 of their 17 encounters with Benin, giving them a solid record. During this same qualifying round, Benin has only managed one victory, a remarkable 2-1 triumph over Nigeria in March 2024.
The Squirrels overcame a deficit to stun the favourites in the game, which was played in Abidjan because of stadium problems in Benin.
Nigeria has since won 3-0 and drawn 1-1 in their two meetings in Africa Cup of Nations qualifying.
But Benin’s performance has significantly improved under head coach Gernot Rohr, a former manager of Nigeria.
They have established themselves as serious candidates for a spot in the World Cup after winning three of their previous five qualifiers.
Nigeria has won two of their previous five games and drew three others, although their lack of offensive creativity has been criticised for their recent performances.
