For the third time in six months, Nigeria and the Republic of Benin will go head-to-head in Abidjan, Ivory Coast on Thursday (today) as they attempt to secure their automatic places for the 2025 AFCON, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

After beating the Cheetahs 3-0 in the first leg at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, in September, the Super Eagles visit the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny, Ivory Coast, home of the Republic of Benin, for the umpteenth time this year . They needed a win to cement their automatic spot in Morocco 2025.

Ultimately, a draw is the bare minimum Nigeria needs to progress, and the Super Eagles will also be playing for a repeat of their 2-1 defeat to the Cheetahs at the same ground in June in the ill-fated 2026 World Cup qualifier to prevent. .

The Eagles currently top qualifying Group D with 10 points, but their opponents and second-placed Benin Republic, who are four points behind them, need a win to remain eligible for the second automatic spot.

This knowledge will lead to a tough approach in the encounter that will be led by Senegalese referee Issa Sy.

Austin Eguavoen’s men were almost perfect, winning three of four games without conceding a goal, but the Beninese Republic, led by former Nigeria coach Genort Rohr, cannot afford any more mistakes after the collapse in Kigali. thrown if they lose their last two matches, with Rwanda earning at least two points in their own last two with five points. Even Libya, with just one point, can still move ahead of Benin if they beat Rwanda in Kigali, the Cheetahs are bumped by the Eagles and the Knights beat the Cheetahs in North Africa on Monday.

Super Eagles defender and 2023 AFCON MVP William Troost-Ekong, who missed the 2-1 defeat in June, said the Super Eagles are going above and beyond the bare minimum.

“The stadium is familiar territory,” says Troost-Ekong. “We have had good results here before, but we are focused on avenging our last loss against Benin and securing victory.”

Rohr is likely aware of Nigeria’s recovery since the June defeat and is wary of the Eagles’ threat.

“Repeating June’s performance will be complicated because Nigeria is now at full strength, but we believe in ourselves.

“Although we would have preferred to have Carlo and Olivier with us, we are prepared to continue without them,” the German gaffer told Foot Africa in an interview.

Unlike Rohr, coach Austin Eguavoen has his full roster from which he can qualify, with one match to spare.

The gaffer will most likely start with the team that faced the Mediterranean Knights of Libya in Uyo last month, meaning captain William Ekong and Calvin Bassey will be at center back, with wing-backs Olaoluwa Aina and Bruno Onyemaechi, as will Bright Osayi. Samuel has returned to that back line.

Wilfred Ndidi, Alex Iwobi, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi and a pair of defensive midfielders, Frank Onyeka and Raphael Onyedika, are available for the spaces in the middle, while Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Moses Simon, Victor Boniface, Samuel Chukwueze , Sadiq Umar and Kelechi Iheanacho are in the foreground in the selection pool.

The match will start at 8:00 PM Nigerian time.