2025 AFCONQ: William Troost Ekong expects victory at famous Felix Houphouet Boigny against Benin Republic

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

With a solid history of playing at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium, Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire, the captain of Nigeria’s senior men’s national team, William Troost Ekong hopes his team continue the good form on the same turf when they faces Benin Republic in Matchday five of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Qualifiers on Thursday.

The Super Eagles played four of their seven games at the 2023 AFCON at the venue of the game.

They won three out of the four games against Guinea Bissau, Cameroon, and Angola after a 1-1 draw with Equatorial Guinea in their group opener.

“The stadium gave us confidence. We feel confident here. I think Ivorian fans will possibly be on our side because we made it difficult for them at AFCON and were happy at the end of the day. Hopefully, we have that same support. The conditions are perfect for us. It was a very beautiful memory that we are looking forward to,” Ekong said during pre-match press conference.

Their last visit to the stadium ended 2-1 in favor of Benin Republic during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.

They had since avenged the loss with a 3-0 win over the same opponents in Uyo.

“The last game we played against Benin Republic was in October, if I am correct, and we won at home. We know the Benin Republic is a good team, and the coach has been my coach for about five years and knows the team very well,” He continued.

“I have played against the Benin Republic several times, so it will be a difficult game, but I think playing at this stadium where he had some amazing memories this year, we will be very ready. We feel at home here in Abidjan. I am confident that we can do the job and qualify by winning.

“That’s what we had to do. We know it is going to be a difficult game and we are going to give our best. From what I have seen at training and camp, we are ready.”

Reigning African vice-champions Nigeria know they will qualify for the 35th Africa Cup of Nations final tournament if they overcome the Cheetahs of Benin Republic in a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification campaign Matchday 5 encounter in Abidjan on Thursday. This knowledge will inform a feisty approach from the first blast of Senegalese referee Issa Sy’s whistle.

After three wins out of their earlier four games (the only draw being the Matchday 2 session with Rwanda in Kigali), the Super Eagles are riding high with 10 points, four more than the second-placed Benin Republic, who suffered a glitch in Kigali in the last round of games. A win virtually guarantees Nigeria’s leadership of the group going into the final-day tussles.

On the other hand, the Cheetahs, with six points, know they cannot afford any more slip-ups following the tumble in Kigali, as they could still be tossed if they lose their last two games and Rwanda, on five, earn a minimum of two points in their own final two. Even Libya, with only one point, can still leap over the Benin Republic if they beat Rwanda in Kigali, the Cheetahs are bumped by the Eagles, and the Knights rout the Cheetahs in North Africa on Monday.