AFCON
Beninese journalist gives tips on how Cheetahs can bring down Super Eagles
Benin Republic and Nigeria are meeting for the third time this year and all within a space of five months.
This Thursday night match is the penultimate qualifying match for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. While Nigeria’s Super Eagles are relatively in a comfortable situation in the qualifying series, it is a cliffhanger for the Cheetahs of Benin.
They cannot afford to drop points as both Rwanda and Libya are in hot pursuit.
Christian Hounongbe, a Beninese journalist at La Nation, has analysed the path that the Cheetahs have to navigate to circumvent the Super Eagles’ hurdles.
Here are the points of interest that he enunciated. To him, the key for Benin to the match is “maintaining mental and physical stability in the face of the Nigerian assaults, while correcting past mistakes.”
According to him, in the first leg match played in Uyo last September, and the one against Rwanda in Kigali, the Cheetahs’ lack of resilience was felt, especially after each goal conceded.
Hounongbe added that those goals led to loss of morale and concentration that allowed their opponents to take the upper hand.
“Against a Nigeria team brimming with talent, the Beninese will have to demonstrate mental discipline at all times, even in the event of a hard blow.
“This time, there is no question of letting themselves be destabilized. The Cheetahs must show constant fighting spirit and concentration to stand up to the Super Eagles.”
Continuing, the journalist wrote: “Also, the tendency to withdraw must not be the order of the day in this return match. This attitude, observed after the opening goal against Rwanda, allowed the Amavubi to get back into the match.
“Against Nigeria in the first leg, an overly defensive approach left the field open to the Super Eagles, who finished with 57% possession compared to 43% for Benin.
“For this return match, it will be important for the Cheetahs to maintain a certain offensive presence, even in the event of a goal.
“The objective: not to allow Nigeria to impose its pace of play. Rather than giving in to the pressure of the opponent, the Beninese will have to build and maintain the pressure to avoid finding themselves locked in their half of the field.
Hounongbe took a retrospective view of Benin’s last match in October and pointed out that “against Rwanda, marking errors and spaces left allowed the Amavubi to multiply opportunities in the second half, putting the Beninese defense in difficulty.
“The same observation was made in the first leg against Nigeria where the Beninese defence had already conceded five shots on target.
“Against a team like Nigeria, which had attempted 13 shots in total during the first leg, the organization and defensive rigour will have to be flawless this Thursday in Abidjan.”
Hounongbe called on defenders like Rachid Mimouni, Olivier Verdon or Mohamed Tidjani to tighten the lines to minimize the positioning errors that had cost dearly in the past.
“Benin will also have to win the midfield battle. Because the loss of midfield duels was one of Benin’s weaknesses against Rwanda and Nigeria.
“In the first leg against the Super Eagles, Nigeria made 475 passes against 373 for Benin, with an accuracy of 84% against 79%.
“This dominance allowed them to impose themselves in this sector and put the Beninese under constant pressure.
“Against Rwanda, the Cheetahs also struggled, displaying only 34% possession. The key for the Cheetahs will be their ability to keep the ball in midfield and create openings.
“Better organization in midfield, avoiding losing duels and anticipating restarts, will be necessary to avoid repeating the scenario of previous matches.”
Confederation of African Football president Patrice Motsepe has praised Morocco’s King Mohammed VI for what he described as a powerful gesture of unity and reconciliation following the royal pardon granted to Senegalese supporters convicted over offences linked to the final match of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
In a statement released on Saturday, Motsepe expressed deep appreciation on behalf of CAF’s 54 member associations, hailing the Moroccan monarch’s decision as a demonstration of football’s ability to foster peace and solidarity across the continent.
“I would like to express our deep gratitude to His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist him, for granting His Royal Pardon to the Senegalese supporters convicted of offences relating to the final match of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025,” Motsepe stated.
The CAF president said the pardon reflected Morocco’s enduring commitment to African unity and highlighted football’s growing role as a bridge between nations and cultures.
“CAF has consistently emphasised its commitment to utilise football to contribute to uniting our people from different racial, ethnic and religious backgrounds,” he said.
“The pardon by His Majesty King Mohammed VI is an uplifting and motivating illustration of the power of football to unite and bring our people together in Africa and worldwide.”
Motsepe also revealed that during recent visits to both Morocco and Senegal, he had been struck by the deep historical and cultural bonds shared by the two countries.
“I was amazed and impressed when I was briefed about the historic and extensive ties between the people of Senegal and Morocco,” he added.
The statement further reinforced Morocco’s rising influence within African football, especially after successfully hosting the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and positioning itself as one of Africa’s leading football destinations ahead of the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which it will co-host with Spain and Portugal.
Motsepe also extended CAF’s best wishes to Africa’s representatives at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, expressing confidence that the continent’s teams would perform strongly on the global stage.
Among the African nations mentioned were Morocco, Senegal, Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Ghana, South Africa, Côte d’Ivoire, Cape Verde and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
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By Kunle Solaja.
Former African champions Algeria and Zambia are set for an early showdown after the release of the Group I fixtures for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Algeria host Zambia on Matchday One on September 21, 2026, in what is expected to be one of the headline fixtures of the qualifying campaign, while Togo entertain Burundi in the group’s other opening tie.
The Desert Foxes are favourites to qualify, but Zambia’s growing consistency and Togo’s unpredictability could make the race highly competitive.
Algeria travel to Burundi on Matchday Two before facing Togo in back-to-back encounters across Matchdays Three and Four. Zambia also meet Burundi home and away during the same period.
The potentially decisive fixture comes on March 22, 2027, when Zambia host Algeria in a clash that could determine the final standings.
Group I Fixtures
Matchday 1 — September 21, 2026
- Algeria vs Zambia
- Togo vs Burundi
Matchday 2 — October 6, 2026
- Zambia vs Togo
- Burundi vs Algeria
Matchday 3 — October 2026
- Algeria vs Togo
- Zambia vs Burundi
Matchday 4 — November 17, 2026
- Togo vs Algeria
- Burundi vs Zambia
Matchday 5 — March 22, 2027
- Zambia vs Algeria
- Burundi vs Togo
Matchday 6 — March 30, 2027
- Togo vs Zambia
- Algeria vs Burundi
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By Kunle Solaja.
African heavyweights Senegal will launch their quest for another Africa Cup of Nations appearance with a home clash against Mozambique in Group J of the 2027 AFCON qualifiers.
The Lions of Teranga, among the continent’s strongest teams in recent years, headline a group that also includes Sudan and Ethiopia.
Senegal host Mozambique on Matchday One on September 21, 2026, while Sudan tackle Ethiopia in the other opening encounter.
Senegal are strong favourites to dominate the group, but Sudan and Mozambique are expected to battle fiercely for qualification points.
The key fixtures may emerge in the double-header between Senegal and Sudan across Matchdays Three and Four, while Mozambique and Ethiopia also face each other home and away.
Senegal travel to Mozambique on Matchday Five before ending their campaign at home against Ethiopia on March 30, 2027.
Group J Fixtures
Matchday 1 — September 21, 2026
- Senegal vs Mozambique
- Sudan vs Ethiopia
Matchday 2 — October 6, 2026
- Mozambique vs Sudan
- Ethiopia vs Senegal
Matchday 3 — October 2026
- Senegal vs Sudan
- Mozambique vs Ethiopia
Matchday 4 — November 17, 2026
- Sudan vs Senegal
- Ethiopia vs Mozambique
Matchday 5 — March 22, 2027
- Mozambique vs Senegal
- Ethiopia vs Sudan
Matchday 6 — March 30, 2027
- Sudan vs Mozambique
- Senegal vs Ethiopia
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