Benin Republic’s coach Gernot Rohr has identified three Nigerian players whose performances greatly contributed to the 3-0 defeat of the Cheetahs by the Super Eagles in the first and first match of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
Benin had upset Nigeria in a June World Cup qualifier match, but they could not pull off a similar upset this time as the Super Eagles were dominant in the game.
Ademola Lookman’s brilliance breaks Benin’s resistance
The Cheetahs had some compact defending throughout a good part of the first half, but the Ballon d’Or nominee Ademola Lookman spoilt that with a moment of magic just before the break.
His goal shifted the balance of the match in Nigeria’s favour and weakened Benin’s chances of getting a positive result.
Impactful Substitutions Seal the Win
Throughout the game, both teams were able to come up with substitutions that were influential.
In the second half, Nigeria did not relent on pressure and was able to create a few chances that were wasted.
The match was won by tactical substitutions made by Coach Austin Eguavoen that include Victor Osimhen, Moses Simon, and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru.
Osimhen scored an historic second goal while Moses Simon assisted the third that sealed the Eagles victory.
Prior to the match, Rohr already admitted the absence of Victor Osimhen and Ola Aina for the Eagles when they defeated Nigeria in June.
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Rohr Hails Nigeria’s Depth
When speaking at the post-match conference, Rohr admitted that Nigeria’s squad provided him with important reinforcements during the game.
“The bench that we have here in Nigeria is fantastic,” he said while noting the influence of Osimhen, Simon, and Dele-Bashiru.
He also went on to say that Benin has a young team that is still growing and is still learning, but they will have to step up if they are to combat teams like Nigeria.
Benin will be playing against Libya in their next group match, while Nigeria, who is now at the group’s summit, will play against Rwanda.
