What a contrasting fortune. Nigeria’s league leaders Remo Stars have two personalities featuring in the crucial Benin Republic versus Nigeria Africa Cup qualifying match in Abidjan on Thursday.

The club’s head coach, Daniel Ogunmodede is an assistant coach with the Super Eagles. The goalkeeper, Adebiyi Serge Obassa is the club’s number one choice.

Obassa has been invited by Gernot Rohr to feature for Benin Republic. He could therefore feature against Nigeria on Thursday in Abidjan.

Both Ogunmode and Obassa left Ikenne base of Remo Stars to Murtala Mohammed Airport a friendly player-manager note.

A video clip supplied by Super Eagles’ media officer, Promise Efoghe showed both exchanging banters at the Lagos airport.  

Speaking in Yoruba, the coach could be heard telling Obassa “I brought you to Nigeria and now you are playing against me.”

Both were dashing up and down as if shadowboxing.  Then in Abidjan, Obassa could be heard telling his club coach that Benin Republic would win Thursday’s match by 2-0 and that Nigeria would then beat Rwanda in Uyo days later to secure qualification.

To that, Ogunmode responded that Nigeria’s qualification will be confirmed on Thursday while Obassa and his teammates will have to contend with experiencing what the Super Eagles tasted in Libya.

To that, Obassa responded that the Libyans would be barred from hosting any match if there is a repeat of ‘hostage’ holding.  

As the countdown to Thursday’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match with the Super Eagles continues, tension pervades across numerous publications in Benin Republic.

The initial optimism which followed Benin’s resurgence after match day 3 has waned owing to the slump in their matchday 4 away to Rwanda.

The Cheetahs got a major boost when they massacred Rwanda 3-0 in Abidjan while Nigeria laboured to a late 1-0 win at home against Libya.

While expecting to consolidate in matchday 4 a few days later in Kigali, Benin slumped 2-1 despite having a 1-0 lead at half-time.

Nigeria’s boardroom win over Libya has complicated Rwanda’s qualification hopes. Though in third place, Rwanda can overtake Benin Republic should it beat the almost-eliminated Libya on Thursday.

That leaves Benin Republic with zero options in Thursday’s match with the almost-qualified Super Eagles.

Local press has put pressure on Gernot Rohr. One of the publications, Fraternite, slammed the coach’s call-ups for the matches against Nigeria and Libya.

It described it as “A list without surprises… but with questions.”

The “list is worrying and there are enough doubts about the competitiveness of most of the players”, Fraternite claimed.

 “Indeed, he (Rohr) has remained faithful to his squad for almost two years without almost any new features. However, the expectations of the supporters are high.”

With the qualification series for the Morocco 2025 Africa Cup of Nations getting to the home stretch this week, the initial confidence of Group D’s second-placed team, Benin Republic looks waning.

Benin Republic, after an initial setback in the opening game with Nigeria in September, appeared to have regained steam, winning their next two matches.

But their last match with Rwanda and Nigeria’s victory over Libya seem to have complicated qualifications for Benin who will be facing the table-topping and vengeance-seeking Super Eagles on Thursday.

Benin will need an outright win to be comfortable and not dependent on the corresponding match of Rwanda and Libya in Kigali.

If Nigeria beat Benin Republic on Thursday, not only will the Super Eagles pick their ticket, but Benin Republic may also lose out in the second-place ranking should Rwanda beat Libya.

Benin will therefore depend on their last match which will be away in Libya.