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African giants Nigeria will kick off their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers with a battle against the Cheetahs of Benin at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo tomorrow evening. The Super Eagles and the Cheetahs are joined in Group D by Rwanda and Libya, who played to a 1-1 draw earlier this week.
Just under three months ago, these two faced off in a crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier clash in which Benin pulled off a 2-1 victory against-the-odds in neighbouring Ivory Coast. That result has thrown the Super Eagles’ World Cup qualification hopes into major doubt and forced a change in the technical crew. The hosts will undoubtedly be out to exact their revenge in this match.
Interim coach Austin Eguavoen is not new to such challenges having been in the hot seat on three previous occasions, albeit, unsuccessfully. After leading the Super Eagles through the group stages of the 2021 Afcon in Cameroon, the Eagles got knocked out by Tunisia in the second round. His recent attempt to earn Nigeria a 2022 World Cup ticket also fell flat. The question now is, can Eguavoen succeed this time?
Nigeria are considered favourites by bookmakers, but Benin are the side with the momentum, having notched up back-to-back victories in their last two outings.
Coach Gernot Rohr who handles the Cheetahs has first hand knowledge of most of the Super Eagles players having been in charge of Nigeria for up to four years. The coach will be banking on his expertise as he anticipates a strong fightback by the Eagles in Uyo.
Unfortunately for Rohr and his traveling party, the team they will face in Uyo won’t be the same as the one they defeated in the World Cup qualifier. Reigning African Player of the Year, Victor Osimhen, and AFCON 2023 Player of the Tournament, William Troost-Ekong, have both returned to the Nigerian squad for September’s games after missing out on June’s World Cup qualifiers due to injuries.
Taiwo Awoniyi, who has been absent from the team since November due to a combination of injuries and not being called up, is also back in the squad.
Fenerbahce’s defender Bright Osayi-Samuel has had to withdraw due to an injury and has been replaced by Crawley Town’s new signing Benjamin Tanimu.
Nigerians expect to see the Super Eagles employ a different approach and strategy as they file out against the visitors. A victory today will mark a good beginning in the 2025 AFCON qualifying campaign and will surely bring smiles on the faces of Nigerians.
Caretaker coach Austin Eguavoen has charged his wards to go all out for victory. For the Eagles, it’s payback time
Meanwhile, former Nigeria head coach Gernot Rohr will look to heap more misery on his old side as he aims to take Benin to a first AFCON since 2019.
The Cheetahs have won three of 12 matches under the German, drawing four and losing five times since he took over the head coach role in February 2023.
However, the first win was awarded by CAF after Rwanda fielded an ineligible player during an AFCON 2023 qualifying match against Beninese, while the other wins have come in their last two matches, signalling an improvement they will hope to keep up when they take on the Super Eagles once again.
Benin have never won a game on Nigerian soil, losing 2-1 on their only trip there in 2019 for AFCON qualifier, but the Cheetahs will feel confident more than ever going into this clash given Rohr’s familiarity with the Nigerian team and their win last time out.
Nigeria finished as runners-up at the last AFCON edition, and have lost just one of their last 12 AFCON qualifying matches – a run they will hope to maintain.
The post 2025 AFCON Qualifiers: Can Eguavoen’s Eagles succeed this time? appeared first on Vanguard News.
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