The Super Eagles have played nine games in the World Cup qualifiers, and their only loss was against Benin…
Benin striker Steve Mounie has expressed confidence that they can defeat the Super Eagles of Nigeria when both teams lock horns on Tuesday, Soccernet.ng reports.
It is building up to be a big battle when Nigeria welcomes Benin to the Godswill Akpabio Stadiun in Uyo on Tuesday.
The game holds a high level of significance for both countries, as it could very well decide where the World Cup ticket in Group C of the CAF World Cup Qualifiers will go.
Benin need a win to qualify, but even a draw could just be enough for them. The Super Eagles on the other hand, are condemned to win to even stand a chance of finishing as one of the best second-placed teams.
Although Nigeria have more quality players on paper, Benin have the upperhand in this series. They defeated the Super Eagles 2-1 in the reverse fixture of this game. That was only their first victory over Nigeria in 15 minutes.
The Cheetas remain the only team in Group C that have taken three points off the three-time African champions.
Ahead of the game, Benin captain, Mounie, is quite positive about his team’s chances. He believes that since they have already defeated the Super Eagles once in this series, they can do it again.
“I didn’t even know the statistics. But it shows that we have a good chance,” Mounie said, per Pooja Media.
“If we are the only team that has beaten Nigeria, then we are the only team that can beat Nigeria again. Hopefully we’ll take our chances tomorrow and get the qualification.
The Super Eagles Are Still Massive Favorites To Beat Benin
After Benin defeated Nigeria 2-1 in the World Cup Qualifiers last year, both teams have met twice. The first game was a 3-0 thrashing, then the second was a 1-1 draw.
So, it appears that the Super Eagles have learned their lessons from that loss. As such, they will be careful with how they approach the game.
The Super Eagles have far more quality players than Benin. They have also achieved more successes in the game than the Cheetahs, so that should give them a big boost.
Being under pressure should also put some win in Eric Chelle and his boys’ sails. So, they should be able to claim a big win in Uyo.