3 weeks ago
9
Expect precocious hostility and crushing heartbreak arsenic enactment resumes successful Group C of the 2026 African World Cup qualifiers today. Group leaders Benin Republic look Rwanda, portion second-placed South Africa and third-placed Nigeria quadrate disconnected against Zimbabwe and Lesotho respectively successful Matchday 9.
With lone 2 rounds of matches remaining, the contention for the apical spot successful Group C and the sole automatic summons is wide open. Benin presently leads the array with 14 points, edging South Africa connected extremity difference, portion Nigeria and Rwanda are tied connected 11 points each.
Benin has ever been football’s quiescent dreamers — passionate, proud, and perennially connected the cusp of thing significant. However, with conscionable 2 matches near successful their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign, this tiny West African federation finds itself connected the brink of a once-unthinkable reality. For Benin, these 2 matches are much than conscionable fixtures; they correspond a nationalist trial of belief. The Cheetahs beryllium atop Group C, up of determination powerhouses South Africa and Nigeria.
Their emergence to the apical of the radical was aided by a caller FIFA ruling that docked 3 points from South Africa for fielding an ineligible player, but Benin’s presumption is nary fluke. Under German manager Gernot Rohr, the squad has blended tactical subject with youthful flair, astir notably defeating Nigeria 2-1 connected Matchday 3 of the qualifiers.
Ahead of their last matches against Rwanda and Nigeria, prima striker Andreas Hountondji, whose goals, leadership, and content person transformed the Cheetahs from hopefuls into genuine contenders for a spot among the world’s elite, expressed his excitement.
“I honestly can’t wait,” helium told cafonline.com with a grin, speaking astir the decisive qualifiers against Rwanda and Nigeria. “To beryllium honest, I don’t cognize if it’s afloat dawned connected maine yet however adjacent we are to really qualifying.”
“Our adjacent lucifer against Rwanda is going to beryllium pivotal. If we negociate to unafraid the 3 points, we’ll beryllium successful a precise beardown presumption up of our last crippled against Nigeria.
“We person 2 matches to go, and if we triumph them both, there’s a bully accidental we’ll suffice directly. Our destiny is successful our ain hands, truthful we person to judge successful our chances.”
While Benin’s destiny is successful their ain hands, Nigeria finds itself praying for different teams to falter arsenic Eric Chelle’s squad aims to triumph their 2 matches against Lesotho and Benin to unafraid Group C’s sole summons to the World Cup successful North America.
The enlargement of the 2026 World Cup to 48 teams has opened the doorway for greater African representation, bringing caller anticipation to countries yet to acquisition the planetary spectacle. However, it appears that Africa’s apical players successful the past 2 years, specified arsenic Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman, whitethorn miss retired connected the planetary shot showcase successful North America unless a occurrence occurs successful their favour.
The duo volition pb Nigeria’s complaint for important 3 points erstwhile the Super Eagles look the Crocodiles of Lesotho astatine the New Peter Mokaba Stadium successful the South African metropolis of Polokwane connected Friday evening.
This clash marks the penultimate matchday of the qualifiers, with Nigeria needing each 3 points and favourable outcomes successful different matches to person a coagulated accidental heading into the last matchday, erstwhile they big existent radical leaders Benin Republic astatine Uyo’s Godswill Akpabio Stadium.
With Nigeria 3 points down first-placed Benin Republic and second-placed South Africa, they indispensable spell each retired for triumph successful their remaining 2 games, starting with the brushwood against the Crocodiles connected neutral crushed connected Friday.
Coach Eric Chelle has been incapable to telephone upon wing-back Olaoluwa Aina, who was injured connected a mediocre transportation astatine Toyota Stadium successful Bloemfontein during past month’s lucifer against South Africa’s Bafana Bafana. Defender Bright Osayi-Samuel, midfielder Raphael Onyedika, and guardant Cyriel Dessers are besides unavailable owed to injury.
However, Chelle welcomes backmost Osimhen, who missed the clash with the Bafana aft suffering an wounded against Rwanda successful Uyo days earlier. The triumvirate that shone brightly astatine past year’s Africa Cup of Nations — Osimhen, Lookman, and Simon Moses — is intact for this captious challenge.
Goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali is apt to clasp his spot successful goal, with Captain William Ekong, Calvin Bassey, Bruno Onyemaechi, Semi Ajayi, Zaidu Sanusi, and Benjamin Frederick each successful enactment for antiaircraft positions. Alex Iwobi, Wilfred Ndidi, Frank Onyeka, Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi, and Christantus Uche are disposable for enactment successful midfield.
Osimhen, Lookman, and Moses volition pb the attack, but Chelle besides has Samuel Chukwueze, Tolu Arokodare, Terem Moffi, and Jerome Akor Adams each successful bully form.
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