West African neighbors Benin and Nigeria will face off in a World Cup qualifying match on Monday at Stade Felix-Houphouet-Boigny.
Benin, known as the Cheetahs, won their last match against Rwanda. Meanwhile, Nigeria, the Super Eagles, have not yet secured a win. This makes Group C very competitive, with all six teams still having a chance to qualify after three rounds.
Gernot Rohr could add to the woes of his former team when his current side hosts the three-time African champions on Monday.
Although the match will be held in Abidjan, Rohr is optimistic that his team will give their all to build on their recent 1-0 victory over Rwanda. This win moved them to third place in the standings, just ahead of the Super Eagles.
Finidi George's team is feeling the pressure, having played to three consecutive 1-1 draws in their World Cup qualifying matches against Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and South Africa.
The recent draw against South Africa's Bafana Bafana was particularly frustrating for fans. They believed the team was denied a clear penalty after Fisayo Dele-Bashiru was fouled, just moments after he had scored a brilliant equalizer. Dele-Bashiru's goal, early in the second half, canceled out Themba Zwane's strike for South Africa, ensuring Nigeria didn't suffer a defeat at home in Uyo.
Despite their disappointing start, with three draws in a row, George's men have a chance to turn things around by defeating Benin in Abidjan. A win could potentially take the Super Eagles to the top of Group C, especially if South Africa fails to win against Zimbabwe and Lesotho, and Rwanda also draws.
Nigeria, having missed out on the last World Cup finals, cannot afford another failure. They need to improve their performance to avoid missing consecutive World Cup tournaments for the first time since their debut in 1994.
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