Benin vs Nigeria: Match Preview, Odds & Prediction

When Nigeria plays Benin at Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny on Thursday, Nigeria hopes to keep its place in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. Benin's Cheetahs will seek to maximize points to get close to qualifying for the tournament.

Previous Matches and head-head

Though under strange circumstances, Nigeria effectively built a four-point lead in Group D of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifications.

The Super Eagles visited North Africa for the return leg after a 1-0 triumph over Libya in Uyo in the first leg of October's AFCON qualifiers double-header, but they encountered animosity from the hosts.

After their jet was redirected at the last minute, the West Africans were left stuck at a Libyan airport for more than 12 hours without food, water, or internet. They opted to go back home and boycott the game.

Eventually, Africa's football governing body, CAF, intervened; upon inquiry, Nigeria was given maximum points, therefore bringing their total to 10 after four games.

One point versus Benin would guarantee the Super Eagles a venue at AFCON 2025, but the squad will aim for maximum points, particularly considering the game will be hosted in Abidjan, Ivory Coast because Benin's stadium is inadequate.

Thanks to a brace by 2024 CAF Men's Player of the Year candidate and favorite Ademola Lookman and a goal from current CAF Men's Player of the Year Victor Osimhen, Nigeria triumphed 3-0 in the reverse match.

Benin won 2-1 the previous time they hosted this World Cup qualifying game in June, and on Thursday, he hopes to achieve the same outcome.

With back-to-back 2-1 and 3-0 victories over Libya and Rwanda, respectively, the Cheetahs recovered from a loss against Nigeria in the inaugural AFCON qualifying game.

Gernot Rohr's team fell 2-1 to Rwanda in the reverse match, however, and now ranks second with six points, one above the third Wasps.

Should Rwanda get maximum points against the Mediterranean Knights this week, anything less than triumph against Nigeria might see Benin tumble to third position approaching the last game against Libya.

With the Cheetahs only twice winning and losing the other seven, this will be the tenth encounter between both teams.

Benin x Nigeria Team News

Though he is still scheduled to attend the camp for additional examination, Benin could be without Vasteras's striker Matteo Ahlinvi. The latter was injured and replaced in the game against Hammarby after just 34 minutes.

Along with Grenoble forward Junior Olaitan, Augsburg attacker Steve Mounie, who scored the winning goal in June's triumph over Nigeria, will be the man to keep an eye on once again.

Both South African-based defender Olisa Ndah and West Brom defender Semi Ajayi, who is sidelined with a muscular ailment, have been replaced by Auxerre defender Gabriel Osho and home-based defender Victor Collins of Nasarawa United. Osimhen returns to the side after an injury-related absence from last month's window; Real Sociedad striker Sadiq Umar missed prior events due to an ACL injury.

Our Predictions

Nigeria to win @ 1.58 on Sky247.ng

Benin may find inspiration in their June fixture triumph, but this time, Nigeria is entering the game with far more firepower and in-form strikers. Hence, we are expecting a victory for the visitors.

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