On June 11, 2024, in the fourth round of the group stage of the World Cup African qualifiers, a riveting contest was played between Benin and Nigeria.
In the opening minutes of the match, Nigeria pounced on their opponents like a beast, and in the 28th minute, Chukwueze's precise cross was met by Onyedika's deftly adjusted shot, which broke the ice first, 1-0! However, Benin did not let this dishearten them as they quickly adjusted their strategy to turn the game around.
The turning point for Benin came in the 37th minute. Jordel Dossou made a breakaway in front of the goal and scored with a powerful shot to make the score 1-1, Benin's equalizer. The goal was like a shot in the arm, inspiring the Beninese team's morale, and the game became more and more exciting.
Towards the end of the first half, Benin's attack continued unabated. In the 45th+3rd minute, a clever corner kick from Oletan was calmly volleyed home by Mounié to put Benin back in front, 2-1, and the victory was on the cards.
In the second half, both players went all out. The Nigerian team tried to fight back, but the Beninese defense was like a brick wall and managed to withstand the Nigerian onslaught with excellent teamwork and tenacity.
In the 85th minute, Olawo's cross from the right was cleared off the line by a defender's header. In the 86th minute, Onuachu's header went over the crossbar. These two attacking chances were not converted into goals, but they reflected the struggle of the Nigerian team in the second half.
The match came to an end with the referee's final whistle. Benin won this crucial battle against Nigeria with a 2-1 victory. Goals from Moune and Jordel Dossou were responsible for the win. Nigeria, on the other hand, led in the first half but could not withstand Benin's comeback and lost.
