It’s barely three months since the Cheetahs of Benin Republic recorded a famous 2-1 victory over the Super Eagles of Nigeria in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier.
That game on June 10, 2024 at the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny was the 17th meeting between the two neighbouring West African countries.
Predicted by pundits as an easy one for the three time African champions, having won 13, losing 1 and drawing 2 of the previous fixtures, it however turned around to be a great disappointment for millions of football lovers in Nigeria.
Nigeria’s second loss to Benin Republic since 17 February 1977, saw the end of Finidi George as the Head Coach of the Super Eagles and the beginning of drama at the Nigeria Football Federation leading to the nocturnal announcement of German Bruno Labbadia as the new coach which turned out to be another cock and bull story as the German rejected the offer announced prematurely.
As a damage control, journeyman, Austin Eguavoen was hurriedly drafted in as usual to take charge of the qualifiers.
The appointment was not well received by Nigerians who still have a good memory of how Eguavoen’s coaching relationship usually ends, and trusting him to begin the country’s qualification campaign for a tournament we finished as runners-up is another expensive gamble by the Ibrahim Gusau’s-led NFF, but one, thousands of Nigerians pray will end up in praise, not tears.
Benin Republic are here again, this time for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier, and the man technically behind the team is a 71-year-old German trainer, a Nigerian football expert, having served as the manager of the Nigeria senior national team from 2016 to 2021.
Rohr returns to Uyo, and his favorite stadium in Nigeria, the iconic Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, this time not for us, but against us.
He knows the city and the stadium very well and he also knows the ability of at least 90 per cent of the invited Super Eagles players, almost all of them were coached by him just over three years ago, and that knowledge worked for him when the sides met three months back.
In less than two years with the Cheetahs, the German has recorded 25 per cent win for the Beninoise, including back-to-back wins against Rwanda and Nigeria.
The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations game on Saturday, September 7 at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo is crucial, and a must-win for Nigeria against their Benin Republic opponents.
A tactic that outsmarts what Gernot Rohr knows about the team that hasn’t changed much since he left is needed, but whether or not Austin Eguavoen possesses such tactical and technical prowess is what we wait to see on match day.
Since losing the 2023 AFCON final to Cote d’Ivoire, the Super Eagles have struggled to regain their winning momentum. They have suffered defeats to Mali and Benin Republic, drawn against South Africa and managed only a single win against Ghana.
The team are currently placed fifth in Group C of 2026 World Cup qualifier, after playing four matches and managing just three points from a possible 12, a very poor performance from a team with quality players.
Captain William Troost-Ekong, Ola Aina and new Galatasaray signing and African best player Victor Osimhen return to the team having missed the World Cup qualifiers against their opponents.
Their return is a big boost to the team and presents a perfect opportunity for the team to turn things around and build confidence as they embark on their quest for a place at the 2025 AFCON in Morocco.
Once beaten, twice shy, twice beaten will be a disaster.
Eguavoen has a heavy burden on his shoulder, maybe not to prove anyone wrong, but to prove himself right by doing everything possible to stop Gernor Rohr and his Cheetahs from clipping the wings of the Eagles again.
By Bassey Ibiatisuho
