Virtually qualified for CAN 2025 for more than an hour, Benin was disillusioned by being caught at the end by Victor Osimhen and Nigeria (1-1) this Thursday during the 5th day of the qualifiers at Stade Felix Houphouet Boigny from Abidjan in Ivory Coast.
Despite several absences including those of Cédric Hountondji and Olivier Verdon in central defense, the game could not have started better for the Guépards, who took the lead in the 16th minute thanks to a superb header from Mohamed Tijani following a cross from Junior Olaitan.
Faced with Nigerians clearly less motivated after learning their qualification before playing following Rwanda’s defeat against Libya (0-1), Gernot Rohr’s men were the sharpest, like this new opportunity for Tijani, narrowly blocked (29th). Before the break, the Super Eagles However, they had a golden opportunity to equalize, but Osimhen missed it by sending his header wide.
Benin will play its qualification in Libya
Returning from the locker room, it was Imourane then Olaitan who missed two goal balls in the box on the Beninese side. Misses that the Cheépards were not far from regretting on a missed header from Yohan Roche which Dandjinou caught at the last minute, then on this strike from Onyemaechi which passed only a few centimeters from the post. Finally, the Beninese cracked in the 81st minute, on a cross from Nantais Moses Simon, launched at half-time, for the head of Osimhen, who equalized (1-1).
The Cheetahs will have to recover from this blow to the head. With 2 points ahead of Rwanda and 3 over Libya, they remain 2nd in this group D and masters of their destiny. A draw will be enough for them on Tuesday in Libya to validate their qualification for the CAN.
Benin-Nigeria lineups
Senegal
