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Nigeria will welcome Benin to the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in their Africa Cup of Nations 2025 qualifying campaign opener on Saturday. The hosts finished as runners-up in the AFCON 2023 earlier this year while Les Guépards have failed to qualify in the last two editions of the competition.
The Super Eagles are winless in their last three games in all competitions, suffering two losses. They played Les Guépards in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in June and suffered a 2-1 away loss. Raphael Onyedika scored his first international goal for the Super Eagles in that match but goals from Steve Mounie and Jodel Dossou helped Guépards record a comeback win.
The visitors are on a two-game winning streak, recording home wins in the World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Nigeria in June.
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Nigeria vs Benin Head-to-Head and Key Numbers
- The two teams have squared off 17 times in all competitions. As expected, the Super Eagles have dominated proceedings against the visitors with 13 wins. The Cheetahs have registered just two wins in this fixture and two games have ended in draws.
- The last 10 meetings between the two teams have produced conclusive results, with two wins for the home side and two for Les Guépards.
- Five of the last seven meetings between the two teams have produced under 2.5 goals, with four clean sheets for the Super Eagles and just one for the visitors.
- The Super Eagles have suffered just one loss in their last 17 games in the AFCON qualifiers. Interestingly, their last two defeats in the competition have come at home.
- Benin have won just one of their last nine games in the AFCON qualifiers, failing to score in four games in that period.
Nigeria vs Benin Prediction
The Super Eagles have won just one of their last five games in all competitions, suffering three losses. They have an unbeaten home record against the visitors, keeping six clean sheets in eight games.
Victor Osimhen and William Ekong are back in the squad after sitting out the World Cup qualifiers in June due to injuries. Taiwo Awoniyi is back for the first game since November. Augustine Eguavoen will take charge as the manager as the deal to sign Bruno Labbadia collapsed last week.
Les Guépards have seen an upturn in form and, after an eight-game winless run, they have registered two consecutive wins. Nonetheless, they have won just one of their last 10 away games in AFCON qualifiers, which is a cause for concern.
Considering home advantage for the Super Eagles and their impressive record in the AFCON qualifiers, the 2023 runners-up are expected to eke out a narrow win.
Prediction: Nigeria 2-1 Benin
Nigeria vs Benin Betting Tips
Tip 1: Result - Nigeria to win
Tip 2: Goals - Over/Under 2.5 Goals - Over 2.5 goals
Tip 3: At least one goal to be scored in the second half - Yes
Tip 4: Victor Osimhen to score or assist any time - Yes
