Nigeria target victory against Benin Republic in AFCON clash

This match comes on the back of a disappointing defeat to the same opponents in June, where Benin Republic secured a 2-1 victory in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match.

The June encounter was marked by a notable absence on the Nigerian sideâ”Victor Osimhen, who was sidelined due to injury.

Osimhen, having recently completed a transfer from Napoli to Galatasaray, joined the final training session ahead of the upcoming fixture, following a period of discord with former coach Finidi George over loyalty issues.

"It's a new journey, we all know. Preparations towards the nations cup, the first game, and nothing short of winning," Eguavoen said in his pre-match conference.

"Expectations are high, we're in good spirits, we're at home, we respect people, and we expect nothing less than three points, nothing less than a win."

Eguavoen's appointment as interim manager follows the unsuccessful tenure of Bruno Labbadia. The former coach, Gernot Rohr, was at the helm of Benin Republic during their victory over Nigeria in the previous qualifying match.

Looking ahead, Nigeria will next face Rwanda on Tuesday as part of their World Cup qualifying campaign, which also includes a group stage involving Benin Republic and Rwanda. 

READ MORE: Kaizer Chiefs shopping for clubs to loan out Sabelo Radebe