The Super Eagles of Nigeria face a mountain to climb in their quest for World Cup 2026 qualification after suffering a humiliating 2-1 defeat against regional rivals Benin on Monday.
Raphael Onyedika had given Nigerian fans hope with an early opener, but the celebration was short-lived as Benin staged a remarkable comeback that leaves Nigeria's qualification dreams hanging by a thread.
Disaster Strikes for Finidi George's Side
In what can only be described as a catastrophic result for Nigerian football, the team now finds themselves in a desperate position in Group C. The defeat leaves them with just three points from their opening four matches, placing them fifth in the six-team group.
The situation is particularly dire considering Nigeria were widely expected to dominate this group, but instead find themselves trailing surprise package Rwanda, South Africa, and even Benin themselves.
Early Promise Turns to Despair
The match began brightly for the Super Eagles when Raphael Onyedika fired them into the lead after 27 minutes. However, the advantage lasted just ten minutes before Benin equalised, completely shifting the momentum of the encounter.
Things went from bad to worse for Nigeria when Benin grabbed what proved to be the winner early in the second half, leaving Finidi George's men shell-shocked and struggling to mount a meaningful response.
Qualification Picture Looks Bleak
With only the group winner guaranteed automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup, Nigeria now face an enormous challenge to salvage their campaign. The defeat represents one of the lowest points in recent Nigerian football history, especially coming against neighbours Benin.
The result piles immense pressure on coach Finidi George, who took over the reins with high expectations but now finds his team's World Cup hopes dangling precariously.
Nigeria must now regroup quickly and produce near-perfect results in their remaining fixtures if they're to have any chance of reaching the expanded World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
