AFCON 2025: Super Eagles set to soar above Cheetahs

The Super Eagles of Nigeria will be out to avoid another banana peel in the AFCON 2025 qualifiers as they confront the Cheetahs of Benin Republic at the Stade Félix Houphouët Boigny on Thursday, writes David Meshioye.

There is a German proverb that translates as “God punish all small sinners immediately.” As sacrilegious as it sounds, it might serve in the case of Benin Republic gaffer, Gernot Rohr who mocked his former Nigerian employers after Super Eagles bit the dust against Benin Republic in the World Cup qualifiers at the Stade Félix Houphouët Boigny back in June.

Two months later in Uyo, the stoned-faced gaffer paid dearly for his outburst as Nigeria eased past the Cheetahs with a 3-0 win in their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier with goals coming from Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen.

With 10 points in the bag, it has been an extremely impressive qualifying campaign for Nigeria as they once again face neighbours Benin Republic in the reverse fixture of 2025 AFCON qualifiers on Thursday, November 14, at the Stade Félix Houphouët Boigny with Nigeria needing a draw to book a passage to Morocco.

But as elated as fans and stakeholders feel ahead of the clash, interim coach Austin Eguavoen has continued to urge Nigerians to remain calm, always telling them that his team is still a work in progress.

Smarting from their unsettling incident that left the entire team stranded in Libya, thus earning Nigeria three valuable points without kicking a ball after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) ruling, the Super Eagles will be gunning for another three points in the bag to finally put Benin Republic where they belong and most importantly make their next home game against Rwanda a dead rubber encounter.

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