The match between Benin and Nigeria in the fourth round of the group stage of the World Cup African qualifiers on June 11 was as brilliant as fireworks and instantly lit up the soccer stadium.
With the drums of war beating, Nigeria took the lead in the 28th minute when Chukwueze's clever cross was met by Onyedika's shot which found its way into the net to make the score 1-0 in favor of Nigeria. But Benin didn't give up as they quickly adjusted their strategy to try and turn the game around.
In the 37th minute, the turnaround came when Jordel Dossou made a breakaway and fired a shot from long range to make it 1-1, a goal that was a shot in the arm that boosted Benin's morale as the game heated up.
At the end of the first half, in the 45th+3rd minute, Olaitan sent in a precise corner kick which Mounie calmly fired home to put Benin back in front 2-1 and the victory was reflected on their faces.
In the second half, both sides fought tooth and nail. Nigeria tried to fight back, but Benin's defense was rock solid, and with great teamwork and resilience, they withstood the Nigerian onslaught.
In the 85th minute, Olawo sent a precise cross from the right, but the defender cleared the ball in time. In the 86th minute, Onuachu's header went over the crossbar. Despite creating chances, Nigeria failed to capitalize.
As the referee's whistle blew, the match came to an end. Benin came back to beat Nigeria 2-1, with goals from Moune and Jordel Dossou contributing to this crucial victory. Nigeria, on the other hand, took the lead but could not turn it around and lost.
