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Legit.ng journalist Ridwan Adeola Yusuf has over 9 years of experience covering sports and football in Nigeria and worldwide.
Abidjan, Ivory Coast – A pleasant day to you and welcome to Legit.ng's coverage of the FIFA world cup 2026 qualifier match featuring the Super Eagles of Nigeria and The Cheetahs of Benin Republic at the Stade Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Ivory Coast.
The game today, Monday, June 10, is crucial, especially for the Super Eagles after Lesotho piled pressure on Finidi George's men.
Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023 finalists, Nigeria, are currently fifth in Group C, which has six teams.
Kindly refresh the page for fresh updates.
It's all over in Abidjan.
The Super Eagles have failed to win any of their first four world cup qualifiers. They sit 5th with 3 points.
This is only the second time in history that Benin Republic will defeat Nigeria.
Thank you for joining over coverage. See you next time.
Five minutes added time.
77' Captain Ndidi taken off. Replaced by Alhassan Yusuf.
Nigeria still behind.
15 minutes to go.
Benin Republic players are frustrating their opponents, weaving together several passes.
We are into the last 20 minutes of the game.
Can Nigeria turn this game around?
59' Ismaila Sodiq and Frank Onyeka come on for Osayi-Samuel and Chukwueze respectively.
50' Double substitution for Nigeria.
Victor Boniface and Paul Onuachu replace Alex Iwobi and Terem Moffi respectively.
Nigeria gets the second half underway.
Earlier, the new national anthem of Nigeria was played before the start of the second half following an error during kick-off in the first period.
The Eagles had recited the ‘Arise O Compatriot’ anthem as opposed to the newly signed ‘Nigeria We Hail Thee’.
The referee sounded the whistle to signal the end of the first half.
The Super Eagles and Nigerians back home would be disappointed with the current scoreline.
Benin Republic have taken the lead!
Steve Mounie hits it past Nwabali.
The captain puts the Cheetahs in front after a fine corner-kick in the 47th minute.
The match officials have given three minutes of added time.
43' Dossou sustained a muscle injury whilst scoring.
He is off for Nigerian-born Tosin Aiyegun.
Benin Republic have drawn level — 8 minutes to the end of the first half.
Calvin Bassey with a reckless clearance attempt which afforded Benin Republic forward, Jodel Dossou, to attack and beat Stanley Nwabali in goal for Nigeria.
27' Raphael Onyedika with a fantastic goal for Nigeria!
Samuel Chuwueze gives him a pass, and the Club Brugge man measures a good shot that beats the Beninois goalkeeper.
15 minutes gone, and the Super Eagles are trying to open the scoring. However, the Beninois defence line appears resolute.
Fenerbahce defender, Bright Osayi-Samuel, aims at goal in the 12th minute, but his shot just goes a bit off target.
Terem Moffi replaces Paul Onuachu
– Samuel Chukwueze replaces Kelechi Iheanacho
– Victor Boniface remains on the bench
– Midfield trio of Raphael Onyedika, Wilfred Ndidi, and Alex Iwobi
Catch Benin Republic versus Nigeria on FIFA+ TV, a free streaming platform.
Nigeria versus Benin Republic match time is 5 pm Nigerian time.
The teams' line-ups are expected to be released any moment from now.
Fulham of England and Nigerian midfielder, Alex Iwobi, disclosed in an online chat that Super Eagles players "bumped into" their ex-boss, Gernot Rohr.
Rohr now manages Nigeria's neighbours, Benin Republic.
Ridwan Adeola (Current Affairs Editor) Ridwan Adeola Yusuf is a Current Affairs Editor at Legit.ng and a certified journalist with over 9 years of experience. He edited Politics Nigeria’s articles, was the Acting Editor of AllNews Nigeria and Fact-Checking Researcher (Africa Check). He received his HND in Mass Communication from The Polytechnic Ibadan. He received a Certificate of Achievement (Journalism Clinic’s Fix The Leak masterclass, 2021) and also completed Google News Initiative’s Advance digital reporting curriculum. Contact him at ridwan.adeola@corp.legit.ng.
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