Frank Christian
Nigeria is close to securing a spot in the Africa Cup of Nations, with their upcoming match against Benin in Abidjan on Thursday.
The Super Eagles received a 3-0 win against Libya in their previous encounter after they opted to boycott the match due to being stranded at an airport. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) ruled that Libya violated disciplinary rules regarding the situation.
A win in this match would confirm Nigeria’s qualification for the 2025 finals in Morocco with one game remaining. With key striker Victor Osimhen returning to the squad, the team is optimistic about their prospects.
The Sporting News is offering live score updates during the match.
Match Score: Benin vs. Nigeria
| 1st Half | Goal Scorers | |
| Benin | — | — |
| Nigeria | — | — |
Projected Lineups:
Benin (4-3-3): Marcel Dandjinou (GK) — Abdoul Rachid Moumini, Cedric Hountondji, Mohamed Tijani, Yohan Roche — Sessi D’Almeida, Hassane Imourane, Jodel Dossou — Dokou Dodo, Junior Olaitan, Steve Mounie
Nigeria (3-4-3): Stanley Nwabali (GK) — Gabriel Osho, William Troost-Ekong, Calvin Bassey — Ola Aina, Wilfred Ndidi, Alex Iwobi, Bruno Onyemaechi — Kelechi Iheanacho, Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman
AFCON 2025 Qualifying Group D Standings
Nigeria leads the group after two matches, holding a four-point advantage over the other teams. A win will secure their spot in the finals.
| Pos | Team | GP | Pts | W-D-L | GD |
| 1. | Nigeria | 10 | 7 | 3-1-0 | 7 |
| 2. | Benin | 6 | 6 | 2-0-2 | 0 |
| 3. | Rwanda | 6 | 2 | 1-2-1 | -2 |
| 4. | Libya | 2 | 1 | 0-1-3 | -5 |
Nigeria’s Team News for Benin Match
Star player Victor Osimhen is back in form, scoring eight goals in nine matches for Galatasaray this season as he re-joins the Super Eagles.
Real Sociedad forward Sadiq Umar also returns to the squad following an ACL injury.
Defender Olisa Ndah will be absent, as will West Brom’s Semi Ajayi. Coach Augustine Eguavoen has added defenders Gabriel Osho from Auxerre and Victor Collins from Nasarawa United to his roster.
Predicted Nigeria XI (3-4-3): Nwabali (GK) — Osho, Troost-Ekong, Bassey — Aina, Ndidi, Iwobi, Onyemaechi — Iheanacho, Osimhen, Lookman
Full Squad Includes:
Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali, Maduka Okoye, Amas Obasogie
Defenders: William Ekong, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Bruno Onyemaechi, Gabriel Osho, Calvin Bassey, Ola Aina, Victor Collins
Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi, Raphael Onyedika, Alhassan Yusuf, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Frank Onyeka, Alex Iwobi
Forwards: Samuel Chukwueze, Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Kelechi Iheanacho, Victor Boniface, Moses Simon, Sadiq Umar
Kick-Off Time for Benin vs. Nigeria
The match will be held at the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, with the kick-off set for 7:00 p.m. local time as Benin lacks a suitably equipped stadium.
Here is the kick-off time in various regions:
| Date | Kickoff Time | |
| USA | Thu, Nov. 14 | 2 p.m. ET |
| Canada | Thu, Nov. 14 | 2 p.m. ET |
| Australia | Fri, Nov. 15 | 6 a.m. AEDT |
| UK | Thu, Nov. 14 | 7 p.m. GMT |
| India | Fri, Nov. 15 | 12:30 a.m. IST |
Benin vs. Nigeria: Historical Stats
Nigeria boasts a record of 14 victories out of 18 encounters with Benin, which includes two consecutive 7-0 friendly wins back in 1977 and 1978.
Nevertheless, Nigeria did experience a setback in their last official away game against Benin, suffering a 2-1 defeat during World Cup qualifying in June.
| Benin Wins | Draws | Nigeria Wins |
| 2 | 2 | 14 |
