Benin Republic are poised to take the lead in Group D of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers, as they face Rwanda in a crucial match at the Amahoro Stadium today.
A victory for the Gernot Rohr-led Cheetahs would see them leapfrog Nigeria, who currently top the group, following the Super Eagles’ decision to boycott their match against Libya.
The Super Eagles were scheduled to face Libya in Benghazi but opted out after being subjected to harsh conditions upon arrival in the country. The Nigerian contingent was reportedly held at the airport for over 16 hours without proper communication, security, or assistance from their Libyan hosts. This led the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) to take the drastic step of boycotting the game, citing the “high level of dark arts” employed by the Libyan authorities.
With Nigeria currently sitting at the top of Group D with seven points from three matches, Benin could surpass them if they manage to secure all three points against Rwanda. A win would push Benin to nine points, while Nigeria would await a ruling from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on whether the abandoned match will be rescheduled or the points awarded to Libya.
Should Benin draw with Rwanda, they would be tied on points with Nigeria but remain second due to the Super Eagles’ superior goal difference. Rwanda, on the other hand, will be looking to get their first win of the group, as they sit third with just two points from three games.