At 16:00, the qualifying phase match for the FIFA World Cup for African teams will kick off. Football enthusiasts can look forward to a clash between Benin and Nigeria.
The national team of Benin is a rare participant in major international tournaments. They have never played in the FIFA World Cup and have not participated in the Africa Cup of Nations since 2019. In that year, Benin managed to be among the top 8 teams in Africa, having not played in the African tournament for nine years prior. The World Cup qualifying stage started off well for Benin. Over the course of three matches, Benin exhibited every possible result. They began with a loss to South Africa, followed by a draw with Lesotho. In their clash against Rwanda, Benin emerged victorious. Currently, Benin ranks third, trailing behind Rwanda and Lesotho.
The Nigerian team needs no introduction, as they are rightfully regarded as one of Africa's strongest sides. Nigeria currently holds the 30th place in the FIFA rankings. They consistently participate in the FIFA World Cup, having qualified for tournaments in Brazil and Russia. In recent Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, Nigeria frequently secured podium finishes. In 2023, Nigeria clinched the runner-up spot. However, their World Cup qualifying campaign has not started on a high note. Nigeria garnered only one point each in their encounters with Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. After three matches, Nigeria holds the fifth position.
In their last five matches, Nigeria holds the advantage. They came out on top in four encounters, while Benin celebrated victory only once, back in 2017.
Nigeria’s individual total over (ITO) will be more than 1.5. Despite Nigeria not scoring prolifically in their three qualifying matches, the tournament situation now compels them to improve their goal tally.
Nigeria to win. One of Africa's best teams is not having their best qualifying cycle. It’s high time to regroup and start winning, especially against a team not from the ranks of South Africa. Benin has good team cohesion but lacks players who can decide the match in a single moment.
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