Nigeria 2-0 Benin (2-1 agg.): Super Eagles qualify for CHAN

By: Linus Onyeze Share:

The Super Eagles have qualified for next year’s CHAN tournament, after they beat Benin Republic 2-0 at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano on Saturday.

The win means the Nigerians scale through 2-1 on aggregate, after losing the first leg 1-0 in Cotonou last weekend.

The Nigerians began the game brightly, as they dominated possession and deprived their Beninoise counterparts of the ball. Rabiu Ali was particularly impressive, as he coordinated the Eagles’ play from midfield and it was the Kano Pillars midfielder who would open scoring in front of his home fans.

After a good interchange of passes between the Super Eagles players, the ball found Rabiu inside the Beninoise box, and he found the back of the net, much to the delight of the Kano fans, as Nigeria eased any pressure there would have been had the game dragged on without them scoring.

The Beninoise tried to assert themselves as much as they could, but they were up against a much better Nigerian side.

The Super Eagles returned for the second half with as much energy as they showed in the first, and it wouldn’t take long before they would find the back of the net again, this time striker Kingsley Eduwo finding the back of the net to double Nigeria’s lead.

The striker had been largely impressive before the goal came, and that goal capped a brilliant evening for him.

The win means the Super Eagles will make a third straight appearance at the CHAN tournament, having previously participated at the 2014 and 2016 editions in South Africa and Rwanda respectively.