Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong believes his team fully earned their 1-1 draw against Benin Republic in Thursday’s AFCON 2025 qualifying match.
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The encounter, played as part of matchday five, saw the Cheetahs take an early lead before Nigeria rallied late to secure a point.
Benin opened the scoring in the 16th minute through Mohammed Tijani, who capitalized on Nigeria’s defensive lapse to head the ball past the Super Eagles’ goalkeeper. Despite creating further opportunities to extend their lead, Gernot Rohr’s men were wasteful in front of goal, leaving the door open for Nigeria to fight back.
Galatasaray forward Victor Osimhen stepped up to rescue the day for Nigeria, scoring a crucial equalizer with a well-timed header just eight minutes from full time. This goal not only secured a point but also ensured that the Super Eagles remain unbeaten in their AFCON 2025 qualifying campaign.
After the game, Troost-Ekong reflected on the result, acknowledging the team’s hard work and determination. “It was a fair result, and we’re very happy to have qualified and remain unbeaten in this campaign,” the centre-back said.
Troost-Ekong also touched on Benin’s goal, citing a bit of misfortune for the Super Eagles. “We were a bit unlucky with their goal because the person missing at the far post was Victor Osimhen, and he was at the other end of the pitch,” he explained.
With this draw, Nigeria has officially booked their place in the AFCON finals and will now turn their attention to their final group-stage game against Rwanda in Uyo on Monday. The Super Eagles are eager to close out their qualifying campaign on a high, carrying their unbeaten streak into the tournament.
