The race for a ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup has taken a dramatic turn in Africa, with Benin Republic positioning themselves as unlikely contenders after a commanding 4–0 victory over Lesotho on Tuesday night.
The result propelled Benin to 14 points, just 3 points behind group leaders South Africa, and pushed Nigeria down to third place with 11 points.
The victory, orchestrated by former Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr, has ignited fresh hope for the Squirrels of Benin as they continue to defy expectations in the qualifiers.
Rohr, who once led Nigeria to the 2018 World Cup, now appears to be masterminding a new footballing story with his adopted side.
Adding more intrigue to the group standings, Rohr and the Benin camp are closely watching FIFA’s review of an alleged rule violation by South Africa.
Bafana Bafana are accused of fielding an ineligible player against Lesotho.
Should FIFA uphold the protest and deduct three points, Benin’s chances of sealing a historic World Cup spot would dramatically improve.
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For Nigeria, the latest results represent a setback. The Super Eagles draw against South Africa now face a mounting challenge to regain lost ground.
With only two qualifiers game matches left, Eric Chelle’s men qualification hopes seems almost over.
Benin’s resurgence under Rohr has become one of the most intriguing narratives of the African qualifiers.
From underdogs to serious contenders, their strong performances are raising eyebrows across the continent and piling pressure on traditional heavyweights.
The final rounds of qualifiers promise to be tense, with South Africa, Benin, and Nigeria all locked in a fierce battle for the coveted World Cup slot.