Benin Republic forward, Junior Olaitan has expressed confidence that they can once again defeat Nigeria when the teams face off in Saturday’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.
The West African neighbors have earlier clashed in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, where Benin Republic secured a 2-1 victory.
Benin’s #8 Hassane Imourane fights for the ball with Nigeria’s #11 Samuel Chukwueze during the FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifiers group C football match. (Photo by ISSOUF SANOGO/AFP via Getty Images)
With the upcoming match set to take place at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, Olaitan believes Benin will draw inspiration from their recent triumph in Abidjan.
“Our goal is to take all three points in Nigeria,” Olaitan told BSN Sports. “It will be a tough game, but we are prepared for whatever the Super Eagles throw at us. We are building on the confidence from our victory in Abidjan.”
Olaitan also pointed out that Benin’s head coach, Gernot Rohr, has extensive knowledge of the Nigerian team, having previously managed the Super Eagles.
“Having a coach who knows the strengths and weaknesses of the Super Eagles is definitely to our advantage,” he added.
The match promises to be a thrilling encounter as both teams vie for crucial points in their AFCON campaign.
