The Super Eagles of Nigeria will square off against the Squirrels of Benin Republic for their African Cup of Nations qualifiers on Saturday, March 27, 2021.
Gernot Rohr’s men sits top of Group L with eight points after four games; one above the Squirrels, who are placed second on the table.
Nigeria needs only a draw in Saturday’s encounter to book their place in the tournament, slated for next year in Cameroon.
While a draw would see the three-time African champions advance to the competition, coach of the Beninoise national team, Michel Dussuyer has fired a strong warning to the camp of the Super Eagles, stating that his side will go all out to win the crucial encounter.
With few days to the kick-off, The Heritage Times has put together three things to take note of before clash.
Benin Republic unbeaten home record
The Squirrels posses an unbeaten home record in the last eight years and will hope to keep it unscratched when they file out against their West-African neigbours on Saturday.
The Super Eagles may parade more players in the biggest leagues across Europe but the game against Dussuyer’s men is likely not to be a push over, especially on their home turf.
The first leg played at the Godswill Akpabio international stadium in Uyo – Akwa Ibom state, saw Rohr’s men fought from a goal down to beat the Squirrels 2 – 1 thanks to Victor Osimhen’s penalty and a 62nd minute effort from Samuel Kalu.
Hence, the Super Eagles must be wary of an early upset that could be caused by their opponent, who are seeking for their first ever victory over Gernot Rohr’s men on home turf.
The last time Benin Republic lost at home to Nigeria was in 1990, during qualifiers for the 1992 AFCON in Senegal.
Parading the likes of Alloy Agu, Benedict Iroha, Mutiu Adepoju, late Ajibade Babalade, Friday Elahor and Moses Kpakor, the Eagles won the game 1-0 thanks to a 55th minute goal by Ishaya Jatau.
Super Eagles’ win-less streak
Rohr’s men have not won a match after their 4 – 2 victory over the Crocodiles of Lesotho in an AFCON qualifier in November 17 2019.
Although, the coronavirus pandemic had disrupted the football calendar in 2020; which means the Super Eagles ended up playing four games; including the double-header AFCON qualifiers against Sierra Leone, that both ended in a stalemate draw.
Nigeria played two warm up games before AFCON qualifiers against the Sierra Leoneans – friendlies against Tunisia and Algeria.
They lost 1-0 to Algeria and drew 1-1 with Tunisia three days later.
In total, the Super Eagles played four matches in 2020. They lost one and drew three.
Squirrels-Super Eagles ‘Familiar Foes’
Like Nigeria-Argentina in World Cups, there is no denying the fact that Benin had long perceived the Super Eagles as familiar opponents.
Both teams have met 15 times and in these meetings, Nigeria have won 12 and drawn two.
While Coach Dussuyer has faced the Super Eagles twice at the preliminary stages in AFCON during his first spell in charge of the Squirrels between 2008 and 2010, the 61-year-old French man eyes turn around this time, having been at the losing side in both editions, with the latest damage caused in the first-leg.
For Dussuyer, picking a first win against Nigeria at Port Novo is certainly not a stroll in the park, but giving the Super Eagles a fight sounds more realistic.
