Nigeria vs Benin: Super Eagles eyeing win not revenge, Eguavoen says

Johnson OpeisaSeptember 6, 20241 Mins read195

Former player and coach of Nigeria's national football team Austin Eguavoen (C) speaks along with other former international football players, during the funeral ceremony of late Nigerian football legend Stephen Keshi at the Evangelist Catholic Church of St John, in Illah, Delta State, on July 29, 2016. - Former Nigerian international and coach Stephen Keshi died from a heart attack at the age of 54 on June 2016. Keshi, also a former skipper of Nigeria, won the Africa Cup of Nations as a player in 1994 and coach in 2013. (Photo by PIUS UTOMI EKPEI / AFP) (Photo credit should read PIUS UTOMI EKPEI/AFP via Getty Images)

Benin defeated Nigeria 2-1 in June, marking their first win against the Super Eagles after eight straight losses and damaging the 2023 AFCON finalists’s World Cup hopes.

Austine Eguavoen, the interim head coach of Nigeria, has said the Super Eagles’s aim against Benin Republic in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is a victory and not revenge like it’s widely speculated.

The Cheetas, led by Genort Rohr defeated Nigeria 2-1 in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers played in June. The defeat worsened Nigeria’s chances of qualifying for the World Cup and gave Benin their first win against the three-time African champions after eight consecutive losses.

“No one is talking about revenge. Our sole focus is on getting three points against Benin Republic on Saturday, and then another three points in Kigali on Tuesday. These victories will set us on the right path towards qualification,” Eguavoen said.

The Super Eagles will take on their neighbour to the west at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Saturday, before heading to Kigali to face Rwanda for their second AFCON 2025 qualifier.

“Our objective is clear: to collect six points from both matches,” said Eguavoen. “The players are well aware of this, and they’re fully committed. Qualifiers are never easy, and every team wants to be at the AFCON finals, but we’ve spoken to the squad, and we’re all on the same page.”

The Super Eagles now have a full house in camp, following Victor Osimhen’s arrival on Thursday.