While South Africa’s focus is on Bafana Bafana, Nigeria and Benin’s national football teams have also intensified preparations ahead of their 2026 World Cup qualifier in Uyo, Nigeria, later today.
Bafana Bafana take on Rwanda on Tuesday evening at Mbombela Stadium in the Group C 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifier match.
Benin, who defeated Nigeria in their first encounter of their qualifying campaign, aim to replicate their success.
If they succeed, they’ll be off to their maiden FIFA World Cup next year. Three teams can still qualify from Group C for the World Cup.
Nigeria’s captain William Troost-Ekong says they are well prepared for the match.
“All the boys are really focused on putting on the best game possible tomorrow. Playing against Benin is not easy. There’s no guarantee. Of course, we are playing against a coach who knows this team very well, worked with us for 5 years, so there are so many factors and things that if you think you spend so much time thinking about all of that, it’s going to be distractions from what we have to do.”
Benin is coached by former Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr, who was in charge from 2016 to 2021. Rohr also expressed confidence ahead of the encounter.
“We can do it, and we are the only team from the three (Benin, South Africa and Nigeria) that still can hope to have our destiny in our hands. That’s why I think we have a good position even if it would be a surprise to win here.”
Benin sit top of Group C with 17 points, two clear of South Africa, with Nigeria a further point behind.
