On June 11, 2024, in the 4th round of the group stage of the World Cup qualifiers in the African zone, a heart-stopping match was played between Benin and Nigeria.
With the drums of war beating, Nigeria took the lead in the 28th minute when Chukwueze's clever cross was met by Onyedika's shot to make the score 1-0 in a flash. But Benin didn't give up, and after some tactical adjustments, they were determined to turn the game around.
The clock came to the 37th minute when Benin finally turned the corner. Jordel Dossou broke away and pushed the ball into the goal to make the score 1-1, which not only boosted Benin's morale, but also made the game more up and down.
Benin added to their lead in the first half of extra time. In the 45th+3rd minute, a corner kick from Olaitan was met by a pinpoint shot from Mounié to put Benin back in front, with victory in sight.
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 they managed to withstand the Nigerian onslaught with excellent teamwork and resilience.
In the 85th minute, Olawo's cross from the right was cleared off the line by a defender. In the 86th minute, Onuachu's header went over the crossbar. These two attacking chances could not be converted into goals, but they also showed how hard the Nigerian team fought in the second half.
The match came to a close with the referee's final whistle. Benin came back to beat Nigeria 2-1 to win this crucial match. Goals from Moune and Jordel Dossou were responsible for the win. Nigeria, on the other hand, led in the first half but eventually failed to withstand Benin's fierce counter-attacks and lost.
