National Teams
Morocco 2025 Afcon qualifier: Nigeria seeks redemption against Benin Cheetahs
By Wale Mustapha
TheNigeria women’s national team are gearing up to face their West African counterparts, the Benin Republic Cheetahs, at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo for their opening match in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.
This encounter marks a crucial moment for Nigeria as they look to bounce back from a recent defeat to their neighbors.
The upcoming fixture will be a rematch of their June clash, which saw Benin secure a 2-1 victory in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
This defeat was particularly painful for Nigeria, marking only their second loss to Benin in history and leading to a significant upheaval in their coaching staff.
The June loss spelled the end of Finidi George’s brief tenure as head coach. George, a former Ajax winger, stepped down after the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) proposed that he transition to an assistant role, making way for a new head coach.
The search for a replacement led to a protracted saga with Bruno Labbadia, whose contract negotiations fell through, leaving the role in limbo.
Eventually, Augustine Eguavoen was appointed on an interim basis, marking his fourth stint with the Super Eagles. Eguavoen’s immediate challenge is to rejuvenate the team and secure a victory in the AFCON qualifiers.
Nigeria has struggled recently, failing to win any of their last three matches, including defeats to Mali and Benin, and a draw with South Africa. They last tasted victory in March and will be keen to return to winning ways.
In the previous AFCON, Nigeria finished as runners-up and have been solid in qualifying campaigns, having lost just one of their last 12 matches. Maintaining this strong qualifying record is essential as they aim to make a mark in Morocco in 2025.
On the other hand, former Nigeria head coach Gernot Rohr, now leading Benin, will be looking to build on the Cheetahs’ recent success.
Rohr’s tenure with Benin has seen mixed results—three wins, four draws, and five losses—since he took charge in February 2023. Despite a rocky start, Rohr’s familiarity with Nigerian football could prove advantageous for Benin.
The Cheetahs have yet to win a game on Nigerian soil, with their only previous visit in 2019 ending in a 2-1 defeat during an AFCON qualifier.
However, buoyed by their recent win over Nigeria and Rohr’s strategic insights, Benin will approach this match with increased confidence.
As the Super Eagles prepare for this high-stakes encounter, all eyes will be on their ability to rebound from recent setbacks and secure a vital victory to kickstart their AFCON qualifying campaign.
