Nigeria Aims for AFCON Qualifying Revenge Against Benin

Nigeria will be led by interim coach Augustine Eguavoen as they seek retribution against neighbours Benin when 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying begins on Wednesday.

He was a late replacement for German Bruno Labbadia, who apparently changed his mind about taking over because the Nigeria Football Federation refused to cover his tax cost.

Former Bundesliga manager Labbadia was set to face compatriot Gernot Rohr, who led Benin to a 2-1 victory over Nigeria three months ago in a 2026 World Cup qualifier.

Jodel Dossou and Steve Mounie scored for the Benin Cheetahs, who rallied from behind to defeat opponents ranked 52 places higher in the world.

Victory was especially sweet for 71-year-old Rohr, who spent five years in charge of Nigeria before being fired amid rising public criticism due to dismal results.
Following the loss to Benin, former star Finidi George resigned as Super Eagles coach after only four matches.

Nigeria was the runners-up to host Ivory Coast in the 2024 Cup of Nations final, and they have an abundance of attacking skill.

Some of the stars Eguavoen can choose for the Group D match in the southeastern city of Uyo are reigning African Footballer of the Year Victor Osimhen, Victor Boniface, and Ademola Lookman.

AFP Sport looks at five additional high-profile opening-round games scheduled for Wednesday through Saturday.

Cameroon v Namibia

Ongoing disagreements between the Cameroon sports ministry and the Samuel Eto’o-led national football federation have created confusion over where the Group J match will be staged.

Originally slated for Atlantic port Douala, the ministry moved the fixture to the capital, Yaounde, only for former Barcelona superstar Eto’o to insist it be played in Garoua.

When the ministry chose Belgian Marc Brys as coach this year without involving Eto’o, it set in  motion a meltdown in relations between government and football officials.

Egypt v Cape Verde

Record seven-time Cup of Nations winners Egypt flopped at the 2024 tournament, losing a last-16 penalty shootout against the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The tournament was a huge personal disappointment for Liverpool star and national team captain Mohamed Salah, whose group-stage injury forced an unexpectedly early return to England.

Egypt will be wary of Cape Verde in Group C despite enjoying home advantage after the island nation snatched a 99th-minute group draw at the Cup of Nations in the Ivory Coast this year.

Ivory Coast v Zambia

Sebastien Haller, the Ivory Coast match-winner in the 2024 Cup of Nations final against Nigeria, has been ruled out as he was busy finalising a transfer from Borussia Dortmund to Leganes.

“It will be a difficult match for us, but we know Zambia having played them in the last Cup of Nations qualifying competition,” said coach Emerse Fae, referring to a home win and away loss.

Zambia, qualifiers for the last Cup of Nations after missing the previous three, must do without injured forward Patson Daka for the Group G opener.

Morocco v Gabon

Soufiane Rahimi, who scored in six consecutive matches for bronze medallists Morocco at the 2024 Paris Olympics to create a Games record, is among the forward options for coach Walid Regragui.

After becoming the first World Cup semi-finalists from Africa in Qatar two years ago, Morocco crashed out of the Cup of Nations this year following a last-16 loss to South Africa.

The Atlas Lions qualify automatically for the 2025 finals as hosts, but chose to compete in Group B to gain competitive match practice.

South Africa vs Uganda

South Africa, which outperformed expectations by coming third at the 2024 Cup of Nations, will be without injured captain and standout goalkeeper Ronwen Williams for the Group K encounter in Soweto.

Forward Percy Tau is another absentee, with talk that he may quit African champions Al Ahly of Egypt to join Wydad Casablanca of Morocco, whose new coach is South African Rulani Mokwena.

Denis Onyango, Uganda’s former goalkeeper, has been stationed in South Africa since 2006 and still plays sporadically for Pretoria team Mamelodi Sundowns.

AFP