BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

Nigeria and their western neighbours go into confrontation for the 24^th time. But more than in the previous 23 contests, this will be the fiercest as they battle for the sole Group C World Cup ticket.

Sports Village Square presents their previous battles severely dominated by Nigeria.

• 8 Nov.1959 (Nkrumah Cup) Benin 0-1 Nigeria
• 29Nov.1959(Nkrumah Cup) Nigeria 10-1 Benin
• 25Jan.1963 (Nkrumah Cup) Benin1-1 Nigeria
• 2 Feb.1963 (Nkrumah Cup) Nigeria 4-1 Benin
• 2 Jan.1965 (African Games Q) Nigeria 1-1 Benin *Abandoned
• 11 December. 1965 (F) Nigeria 1-0 Benin 
• 27 Feb. 1966 (F) Benin 1 -2 Nigeria
• 20 Dec. 1972 (F) Nigeria 3- 0     Benin
• 14 Feb. 1977 (F) Nigeria   7- 0     Benin
• 14 Jan.1978 (3 African Games Q) Nigeria 7-0 Benin
• 17 Jan.1978 (3African Games Q) Nigeria 2-0 Benin
• 14 Oct. 1979 (F) Benin   1-1       Nigeria
• 4 Nov. 1979 (F) Nigeria 5-0        Benin
• 1 Feb. 1987 (SCSA) Benin 1-1     Nigeria
• 30 Sept. 1990 (Afcon Q) Benin 0-1 Nigeria
• 27 April 1991 (Afcon Q) Nigeria 3-0 Benin
• 2 Feb 2004 (Afcon)  Benin 1-2 Nigeria
• 28 Jan.2008 (Afcon)  Benin 0-2 Nigeria
• 16 Jan. 2010 (ACN) Benin 0-1 Nigeria
• 10 June 2024 (WCq) Benin 2-1 Nigeria
• 7 Sept. 2024 (Afconq) Nigeria 3-0 Benin
• 14 Nov. 2024 (AfconQ) Benin 1-1 Nigeria

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Nigeria’s Super Eagles will go all out for victory against the Cheetahs of Benin Republic this Tuesday, hoping for a favourable result from Nelspruit as the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers reach their dramatic conclusion.

Group C leaders Benin Republic, with 17 points, have destiny in their hands — a win at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo will earn them a historic first-ever qualification for the FIFA World Cup.

But the Super Eagles, who have not missed two consecutive World Cup finals since making their debut in 1994, are determined to keep that proud record intact. Head coach Eric Sekou Chelle has vowed that his side will “give everything” to secure a decisive win and keep their qualification hopes alive.

Despite sitting third in the group, Nigeria remain the most consistent side statistically — the only team among the top three to have lost just once.

Second-placed South Africa, on 15 points, and leaders Benin have each suffered two defeats. The Bafana Bafana host Rwanda’s Amavubi in Mbombela at the same time Nigeria battle in Uyo.

Benin, led by former Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr, have enjoyed a remarkable campaign and need only a point — provided South Africa do not win — to secure their World Cup dream. In contrast, Nigeria are chasing a seventh appearance at the global showpiece, having reached the Round of 16 three times in their history.

Captain William Troost-Ekong and midfielder Alex Iwobi, both survivors of the 2018 tournament in Russia, will lead the charge for redemption. Ekong, who was named Man of the Tournament at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, is set for his 83rd cap, while Iwobi will make his 89th appearance.

Several of Nigeria’s current stars — including Victor Osimhen, the reigning Africa Player of the Year; defenders Calvin Bassey and Ola Aina; midfielders Frank Onyeka and Raphael Onyedika; and wingers Samuel Chukwueze, Moses Simon, and Ademola Lookman — are still seeking their first World Cup appearance.

However, the Super Eagles will be without Lookman, who is suspended, as well as injured wing-backs Aina and Bright Osayi-Samuel. Benin will also miss key players Yohan Roche and Sessi d’Almeida, both serving suspensions.

The Cheetahs, with only four Africa Cup of Nations appearances and a best finish of the quarter-finals in 2019, face the far more experienced Nigerians, who boast 20 AFCON appearances, three titles, and five runner-up finishes.

While Benin’s 11.5 million citizens will rally behind Rohr’s men, Nigeria’s 220 million supporters — including thousands expected at the Uyo stadium — will hope for a performance worthy of their pedigree.

A two-goal win for Nigeria combined with a draw or defeat for South Africa against Rwanda would hand the Super Eagles an automatic ticket to the 23rd FIFA World Cup to be jointly hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico next summer.

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Cape Verde qualified for the World Cup on Monday, beating Eswatini 3-0 in their last group match to top the standings ahead of Cameroon and complete a fairytale campaign.

The wind-swept West African archipelago overcame first-half nerves to win in Praia with second-half goals from Dailon Livramento, Willy Semedo and veteran Stopira and book a first-ever appearance at the finals.

They started two points ahead of Cameroon, whose eight previous World Cup finals appearances are the most by an African country. Cape Verde finished Group D on 23 points, four ahead of Cameroon, who were held at home to a goalless draw by Angola.

Cape Verde rarely played international football some 25 years ago but now head to next year’s finals in North America as one of the nine African representatives.

They join Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria and Ghana who have qualified already.

Livramento took advantage of Eswatini’s failure to clear to steer home the ball from close range three minutes into the second half while Semedo also had a tap-in for the second six minutes later.

Stopira, 37, had only come on as a late substitute as an acknowledgement of his long service with the team since 2008, and put a cherry on the cake with a stoppage-time goal.

The island’s 600,000 inhabitants had been given the day off to support their team but there was little to cheer in a tentative first half before Livramento scored. After that, the celebrations could not be contained.

Cape Verde are the second smallest country to qualify for the World Cup after Iceland, who competed in Russia in 2018.

Cameroon will likely advance to the playoffs for the four best runners-up across the nine African qualifying groups but were jeered off in Yaounde after failure to beat Angola whose 39-year-old goalkeeper Hugo Marques made several telling stops.

-Reuters

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