Super Eagles Arrive in Cote d'Ivoire for Crunch Clash [VIDEO]

Super Eagles arrive in Côte d'Ivoire ahead of their Make-or-Mar matchup with Benin

Super Eagles arrive in Côte d'Ivoire for crucial World Cup qualifier against Benin Republic. With only three points from three games, the team knows a win is vital to keep their 2026 FIFA World Cup dreams alive. Coach Finidi George and the players are focused on taking it one match at a time and securing a vital three points on Monday night.

The Super Eagles have traveled to Abidjan, the capital of Cote d'Ivoire, in preparation for their matchup with the Benin Republic's Cheetahs on Monday in the African qualification series for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The group, which was headed by Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), consisted of 23 players, as well as technical and administrative staff, a few members of the NFF Management and Executive Committee, and a few media representatives.

They departed from the Obong Victor Attah Airport in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on a chartered ValueJet aircraft, and they arrived at the Aeroport Felix Houphouet-Boigny at midday on Sunday.

Currently occupying an odd fifth position in the six-team Group C after three rounds of competition, the Super Eagles know that their only chance of qualifying for the next World Cup finals, which will be jointly hosted by Canada, the United States, and Mexico in two years, is if they defeat the Cheetahs on Monday night.

Coach Finidi George told thenff.com on arrival: “We're very much aware of why we are here and what we have to do. The players want to go to the World Cup and they have resolved to give their all in every game going forward. We had our opportunities against South Africa on Friday and should have won, but that is gone and we face another challenge now.

“We have resolved not to look too far ahead in this race. The essence is to take it one match at a time. The Benin Republic is in our front now, and we must deal with that squarely.”

The Eagles know they must perform at a high level to replicate the joyous moments of the AFCON at the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny, where they won all three of the matches played there during the previous Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals earlier in the year. The Eagles have only three points from their first three games of the campaign and are up against the Cheetahs, who have four points.

The Super Eagles will have a familiarization session on the stadium pitch during their official training at 4pm CIV time on Sunday, getting a feel for the turf ahead of their crucial match against Benin.

The game on Monday begins at 4 p.m. CIV time (5 p.m. in Nigeria) and will be officiated by Pierre Ghislain Atcho, a Gabonese official. There will be two Ethiopian officials serving as assistance referees: Temesgin Samuel Atango and Tigle Gizlaw Belachew.

The referee assessor will be Algerian Djamel Haimoudi, while the commissioner will be Burkinabe David Yameogo and the security officer will be Ivorian Atte Claude Elloh.

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