Nigeria look to improve their World Cup qualifying standing as they take on 97th-ranked Benin on Monday in the Ivory Coast capital of Abidjan.
After a 1-1 draw with South Africa on Friday, the Super Eagles sit fifth in their six-team group with just three points through three matches. They must start securing victories to move up the table, and while the current standing is concerning, they could theoretically end the matchday atop the table with a win today and some outside help.
Benin topped Rwanda last time out, moving them to four points, where they are level with two other sides in the crowded Group C.
After eight matches, the winner of the group will qualify directly for the expanded 2026 World Cup, while the second-place finisher could potentially advance to the playoff round if they end up amongst the top four of the nine runners-up.
The Sporting News is following the Nigeria vs. Benin match live, providing score updates, commentary and highlights as they happen.
Nigeria vs. Benin live score
| Score | Goal scorers | |
| Benin | – | – |
| Nigeria | – | – |
Kickoff: 4 p.m. local (12 p.m. ET / 9 a.m. PT)
Location: Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium (Abidjan, Ivory Coast)
Referee: Pierre Ghislain Atcho (GAB)
Starting lineups:
Benin (4-3-3, right to left): Dandjinou (GK) — Moumini, Hountondji, Tijani, Kiki — Dodo, D’Almeida, Imourane — Dossou, Mounie, Olaitan.
Nigeria (4-3-3, right to left): 23. Nwabili (GK) — 5. Tanimu, 6. Ajayi, 21. Bassey, 12. Osayi-Samuel — 15. Onyedika, 17. Iwobi, 4. Ndidi — 7. Lookman, 9. Moffi, 11. Chukwueze.
Nigeria vs. Benin live updates, highlights, commentary
30 mins to kick: The Benin lineup is finally in, and head coach Gernot Rohr has not made any changes from the 1-0 win over Rwanda a few days prior.
Benin 1-0 Rwanda
Dodo Dokou scored for the Cheetahs in Abidjan to claim their first win in Group C.
After beating the table toppers, Gernot Rohr and his boys shift attention to Nigeria on Monday. pic.twitter.com/XgYI5qEc5L
— Oluwashina Okeleji (@oluwashina) June 6, 2024
45 mins to kick: Benin are led by German boss Gernot Rohr, who managed Nigeria for five years including their last World Cup appearance in 2018. His time with the Super Eagles came to an acrimonious end, as he was sacked in December 2021 despite having achieved qualification to the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations and the final round of World Cup qualifying. Nigeria would famously fall short of the goal in his absence, and he would be hired by Benin in 2023.
This would be some motivation for Rohr and Benin, but Nigeria are also seeing it that way, to prove they are above their former coach’s current stature.
@NGSuperEagles stand in captain Wilfred Ndidi( @Ndidi25): “Facing Gernot Rohr who coached us for about 5 years is some motivation for us to win this match.”#2026WCQs #BENNGA #SoarSuperEagles. pic.twitter.com/Jd4AN1TQF2
— Oluwatoyin Ibitoye (@Toyin_Ibitoye) June 10, 2024
1 hour to kickoff: The Nigeria lineup is in, and Semi Ajayi has passed fit for Nigeria, a big boost, but Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, who scored the team’s only goal against South Africa last time out, will not start, replaced by Samuel Chukwueze of AC Milan. Also coming into the side is Raphael Onyedika as Kelechi Iheanacho is dropped for an extra midfielder, while Frank Onyeka is left on the bench.
Surprisingly, Bayer Leverkusen star Victor Boniface has been left on the bench again, with Terem Moffi chosen to lead the attack.
1 hour 30 mins to kickoff: There are a pair of fitness questions for Nigeria head coach Finidi George coming into this game, with winger Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and defender Semi Ajayi both facing fitness tests ahead of the match. The potential absence of Ajayi would be a significant miss given the lack of defenders in the squad, including the aforementioned William Troost-Ekong.
Best of luck to Semi Ajayi, BTA and Okay Yokuslu who could all feature for their nations this evening.
Go well, lads! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/IgAxx6CDCZ
— West Bromwich Albion (@WBA) June 10, 2024
2 hours to kickoff: Nigeria are sorely missing the leadership of AFCON hero William Troost-Ekong, who was not called into the Super Eagles squad this international window due to a lack of match fitness. He missed the final few months of the club season with an injury suffered in the AFCON final.
Troost-Ekong also recently spoke out against the Nigeria coaching staff, saying he “almost retired” from national team duty because “I didn’t like how the coach handled some situations.” He didn’t name the coach he was upset with, whether it be new head man Finidi George or someone from before, but it was clear he was speaking of recent thoughts and not in the distant past.
‘I was almost retiring from playing with the Super Eagle because I didn’t like how the coach handled some situations’ – Troost Ekong
Catch full episode tomorrow on YouTube and all podcast streaming platforms. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/SlVOZSsYNg
— Zero Conditions Podcast (@ZeroConditions_) June 9, 2024
Nigeria vs. Benin lineups, team news
Benin could stick with an unchanged starting line up from their 1-0 win over Rwanda last time out, with Stade Brest striker Steve Mounie the most notable name in the XI.
Benin starting lineup (4-3-3): Dandjinou (GK) — Moumini, Hountondji, Tijani, Kiki — Dokou, D’Almeida, Imourane — Dossou, Mounie, Olaitan.
Benin subs (12): (Lineups released one hour prior to kickoff)
Nigeria are without injured talisman Victor Osimhen who will miss a month and likely not be available until the start of the next club season. They are also missing Bayer Leverkusen forward Nathan Tella due to personal reasons, further depleting their attacking ranks.
In that thin attack, Nigeria could see Victor Boniface or Samuel Chukwueze rotated into the side after the 1-1 draw with South Africa, with Paul Onuachu misfiring in that result. Midfielder Frank Onyeka was strong for Nigeria in the most recent AFCON, but he is left out again with Raphael Onyedika entering the midfield.
Team leaders Ahmed Musa and William Troost-Ekong were notably absent from the squad due to a lack of match fitness, as the former is without a club since being released from Sivasspor in February and the latter missing the final third of the club season at PAOK due to an injury.
Nigeria starting lineup (4-3-3): Nwabili (GK) — Tanimu, Ajayi, Bassey, Osayi-Samuel — Onyedika, Iwobi, Ndidi — Lookman, Moffi, Chukwueze.
Nigeria subs (12): Okoye (GK), Ojo (GK), Ismaila, Igboke, Olawoyin, Awaziem, Onyeka, Dele-Bashiru, Abdullahi, Onuachu, Iheanacho, Boniface.
How to watch Nigeria vs. Benin
- Date: Mon, Jun. 10, 2024
- Time: 4 p.m. local (12:00 a.m. ET / 9 a.m. PT)
- TV Channel: — None —
- Streaming: FIFA+
Aside from a few select territories, this match will be available globally on FIFA+, which is a free streaming service for those who sign up.
The exceptions include India, where the match will be streamed on FanCode. Others include Serbia, Croatia, and the two participants, Nigeria and Benin. In Nigeria, the match is available to watch on NTA Sports 24.
