Super Eagles head coach Finidi George has explained how his team can secure the three points against Benin Republic in Monday’s Group C 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier.
The Eagles recorded their third straight draw in the qualifiers after a 1-1 scoreline with South Africa in Uyo on Friday.
They had recorded the same scoreline against Lesotho and Zimbabwe on matchday 1 and 2 in November, 2023.
After the South Africans took the lead through Themba Zwane before Fisayo Dele-Bashiru equalised early in the second half.
Speaking in his pre-match presser on Sunday, Finidi said if his players can replicate their second half performance against South Africa, they stand a chance of beating Benin Republic.
“We are going to approach the game with every seriousness,” Finidi said.
“The match against South Africa has gone we have learnt from it, we just have to see how we can get ourselves to have that fantastic second half we had. If we can start that way I think we have a chance.”
The Eagles are in fifth place on three points after three games while Benin Republic, on four points, are third in the table.
The Beninoise are handled by former Eagles coach Gernot Rohr.
11 Comments
Take out Onuachu, Ndidi and be sure. Importantly, start Boniface and yussuf.
Ndidi??.. Lol oga did you watch the match?
Ugo Ndidi and Onyeka doesn’t deserve to start ahead of Alhassan and Onyedika. Nigeria is just to political and blind.
I said it here when u all clamoring and asking why boniface wasn’t in starting lineup and eventually didn’t play at all against SA, I said that guy have grown nipple and look unfit since his return from injury, he now spend more time on the internet granting yeye skit interview and all, you wonder why he find it difficult to get back his starting spot with leverkusen and the truth is out that the new fitness coach of the SE said he was unfit, came to camp excessively fat and came last in all the drills prior to the match, you guys need realize the coach sees this player and in position to decide whom he want, we complain too much.
Moffi is unfit too?
Your excuse is lame, Onuachu isn’t a top striker for SE
You are right @femi. Most of these players from poor background are into football to make money and fame . The moment these come they play at average till they retire. The onky exception is Osimhein. He is passionate about football and you can see it over him. This is why foreign born players are better than home grown. The only issue with foreign player is most lack true skills but what they lack in skills they have it in basic football and passion. Our Nigeria birn players once they hit it ,they first look for oyinbo woman toto, next you see them on tik tok and social media. How many times do we see Modric, kross mercy galvanizing on the media. Nigeria is sick because of poverty. Even once a local coach is appointed to any national team the next thing is to go to church or mosque for thanks giving ,because the time to be rich has come.
Telling lies to just your position. Leverkusen has good players who took over his position when he was injured. Even at that he did fairly well in some matches he played. If he was unfit as you claim Alonso is not stupid, he won’t use him at all.
So onuachu is better than Moffi. I would even prefer iheanacho at that position than onuachu.
Can you give us the link to the article where the trainer said he was unfit.
Naa mouth dem get, football is play in the midfield, not only in attack, we need to play 4-2-3-1 or 4-2-1-3 (Nwabali; Osayi, Tanimu, Ajayi, Bassey; Ndidi/Onyeka, Yusuf/Onyedika; Iwobi/Dele; Lookman, Boniface/Moffi, Chukwueze.
There should be balance in the team, we keep calling stupid and useless players, players that we don’t need, what is Awaziem, Iheanacho doing there? We need a lot of box-box players in our team, not playing Iwobi as a box-box, he can’t do that job, any mistake he will expose the defence. We don’t have to play some players because of bribery, basic football.
It’s like playing Bellingham of England in midfield, he can defend and pose threat in attack, he is box-box, you can’t think Foden will do what he’s doing, he hasn’t got that ability to defend.
Iwobi is like Foden, playing a role of other players, and some idiots of 94’ backwards
Mentality are thinking that’s right, we lost to Ivory Coast due to lack of box-box players, players that can do everything in midfield, attack and defend at the same time .
We need a mobile midfield and marking defence. We have seen Ndidi play 5/6 in liecester. He can play with Bassey 5 , Ndidi6, Taminu 2, osayi 3, onyeka 4, onyedka 10, boniface 9, terrem moffi 8, Lookman 7, chukwueze 11. With this team we can beat anybody. Its a pity we missed the real hit men . Osimhen, Dessiers and Awoniyi up front who are all round killer strikers . Paul, Awaziem , Omerua, and snrman kel its time to go home. Akpoguna, Aina Ebuehi in or Ehizubue.
South Africa team is just like the eagle of the 1980s . If u play Dem with boys coming to camp in two days den u get wat u got in the first half .
So if eagles play Benin with second half performances against south Africa. I guess the game is good as won .but but is rohr go pack middle,I hope finidi wil match the middle action . Rohr has tortoise brain ooo
Already telling eagles that dey are the favorite to go world cup
This is a setup .
Did anybody read what stubborn said about benching Boniface for onuachu? I believe he is already digging his failure.
This was my response to that awful statement from our amiable unwise coach.
You’re already digging your failure Coach finidi. You can even bench Oshimen for onuachu. Benching Boniface for onuachu is a big blunder. They pay you tax payers money and you say we shouldn’t criticize your erratic invitation and decision. Try and lose today and see more criticisms.