Benin Republic stunningly defeated Nigeria 2-1 in 2026 World Cup qualifying, marking their first ever victory over continental powerhouse Super Eagles. Jodel Dossou, and Steve Mounie scored as minnows Benin topped Group C.
In a stunning upset, the Benin Republic national team defeated Nigeria's vaunted Super Eagles 2-1 in a 2026 World Cup qualifier, marking the first time the small West African nation has ever beaten their powerhouse neighbors.
The "Cheetahs" raced to the top of Group C by clipping the wings of the recently struggling Super Eagles, who were the heavy favorites going into the match in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
After Benin took a shock 2-1 lead just before halftime through goals from Jodel Dossou and Steve Mounie, they managed to hang on in the second half despite heavy Nigerian pressure to secure a famous victory.
Nigeria had been utterly dominant against Benin in past meetings, winning 11 of the previous 13 matchups while the other two ended in draws. But the talent-laden Super Eagles have struggled mightily in this World Cup qualifying campaign under new coach Finidi George, collecting just 4 points from their opening 4 matches.
The shock result leaves Nigeria in fifth place in Group C, already 4 points back of Benin at the top with just 4 games remaining. Missing out on the 2026 World Cup would be a massive disappointment for Nigerian football after qualifying for the last 4 tournaments.
However, this night belonged to plucky Benin and their band of unheralded players like goalscorers Dossou and Mounie, as they celebrated wildly on the pitch after the final whistle.
