Nigeria’s Super Eagles suffered a major setback in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign after a 2–1 defeat to Benin on Monday, extending their winless run to four matches.
Entering the qualifiers as favourites in Group C, Nigeria has managed just three points from their opening four games, leaving them under mounting pressure. In contrast, Benin moved to the top of the group with seven points following an impressive performance.
The encounter, originally scheduled to be played in Cotonou, was moved to Abidjan, Ivory Coast, due to the poor condition of Benin’s home stadium. Despite the change in venue, Benin showed composure and determination to secure a memorable victory.
Nigeria opened the scoring in the 27th minute through Raphael Onyedika, who capitalised on a moment of hesitation in the Benin defence to find the net. However, Benin responded swiftly when Jodel Dossou equalised in the 37th minute, racing onto a counterattack before suffering a hamstring injury that forced him off shortly after his goal.
The decisive moment came when Steve Mounié headed home at the back post, punishing a lapse in Nigeria’s defensive organization to complete the comeback. The victory was especially emotional for Benin head coach Gernot Rohr, who was dismissed by Nigeria three years ago on the eve of the Africa Cup of Nations finals.
At the final whistle, Rohr was lifted onto the shoulders of his players in celebration, marking a symbolic and triumphant moment for the Benin coach and his team.
Nigeria’s poor run has left their World Cup qualification hopes in serious jeopardy. Under the CAF qualification format, only the winner of each of the nine groups is guaranteed a place at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, while the best runners-up will have a second chance through a playoff route.
With the fourth round of Africa’s World Cup qualifiers set to conclude on Tuesday, the pressure continues to mount on teams battling for a coveted spot at football’s biggest stage.
