Afrigather The Tremendous Eagles of Nigeria hopes of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup suffered one other dent, as they fell to a 2-1 defeat to Benin at Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny, Soccernet.ng reports.
Final Friday, the Tremendous Eagles needed to accept a 1-1 draw towards South Africa on the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo. That end result left them one level away from the highest of Group C and nonetheless in a superb place to seize the World Cup ticket. In truth, the sport towards Benin was the right alternative to exert their dominance on the group.
Nigeria began the sport on prime, controlling the play and bossing possession. Benin, however, had been content material with sitting again and hitting the Tremendous Eagles on the counter.
Nigeria created the higher probabilities, with Ademola Lookman getting shut halfway into the primary half. Nevertheless, he was unable to seek out the goal.
Nonetheless, the Tremendous Eagles lastly received the much-needed objective within the twenty seventh minute. Samuel Chukwueze was the orchestrator, as he acquired a protracted cross on the best aspect of Nigeria’s assault, reduce in, and despatched a cross to Raphael Onyedika, who was lurking in entrance of the field. The Membership Brugge artificial no mistake, as he struck the ball into the left of Benin’s objective.
The lead didn’t final lengthy, nevertheless, as Jodel Dossou capitalized on some shambolic defending from Nigeria’s backline and scored to make it 1-1 after 37 minutes.
Eight minutes later, simply earlier than the break, Benin scored once more. And it was nonetheless due to their poor defending.
The Cheetas gained a nook on the best aspect of their assault. The nook was a poor one, however the Tremendous Eagles didn’t defend it effectively. Ultimately, it fell to Brest attacker Steve Mounie, who struck the ball into the online with aplomb to make it 2-1.
Nigeria began the second half with extra urgency, however they failed to attain. Then, Finidi began wringing within the modifications, with Victor Boniface, Paul Onuachu, and Ibrahim Olawoyin getting launched for Samuel Chukwueze, Alex Iwobi, and Vivid Osayi-Samuel earlier than the sixtieth minute. However that didn’t change something, because the Tremendous Eagles continued to pile the strain however did not create any clear-cut likelihood.
Then, Remo Stars defender Sodiq Ismail received his debut within the sixtieth minute. And it was clear that the instruction from Finidi was to spam the world with crosses. Sadly, for the Tremendous Eagles, one of the best they received from that was hitting the cross-bar within the dying embers of the sport.
Regardless of their huffing and puffing, the Tremendous Eagles failed to attain and ultimately needed to accept the 2-1 loss. The end result leaves Finidi George’s aspect fifth on group C, 4 factors behind leaders Benin.
Because it stands, if the Tremendous Eagles fail to win their subsequent video games, qualifying for the World Cup will solely be a mirage.
