World Cup (Q): Nigeria must beat Benin convincingly to qualify – Troost-Ekong

Nigeria national team defender William Troost-Ekong believes beating Benin convincingly in their final group game of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers will enable them to seal a spot in the global tournament.

The Super Eagles kept their Group C hopes alive with a battling victory over Lesotho at Peter Mokaba Stadium in South Africa on Friday. After a timid first half, the Super Eagles were awarded a penalty early in the second stanza when Motlomelo Mkhwanazi handled a goal-bound effort from Moses Simon.

Troost-Ekong took on the responsibility and slotted the spot-kick into the bottom corner with precision. There was high drama in the final ten minutes when debutant substitute Akor Adams made it two for Nigeria with a fine strike, before Hlompho Kalake quickly pulled one back after goalkeeper Stanley Nwabili failed to hold on to a Lesotho corner.

‘Nigeria want to be at the World Cup’

“We want to be at the World Cup we’ve said that now for the last nine months and we have the opportunity now with the game in Uyo against Benin who we know we have to score certain amount of goals, it was always the case we need to win the game and we have to win it convincingly,” said the Super Eagles captain as quoted by Complete Sports.

“It’s going to be a big test again but now I think the team is really ready, we’ve been working on the pressure for such a long time and we know this is the final and we worked really hard to get there and like the coach said I’m proud of the team.”

Nigeria will host Benin at Godswill Akpabio Stadium

Evaluating the game against Lesotho, he said: ”Lesotho played a great game, it wasn’t easy to come here, we knew that from the start and I can understand the disappointment and frustration because they put up a very good fight.

“This kind of games are never easy, the coach said about the pressure which has been on us since March and maybe since the start of the qualifiers. We just want to focus on ourselves. We are a team of guys that have a winning mentality, they want to be winners.”

With South Africa drawing 0-0 against Zimbabwe and Benin defeating Rwanda 1-0, Group C qualification will be decided on the final day. Nigeria will return home to host Benin at Godswill Akpabio Stadium on Tuesday.

The win left them third with 14 points, three fewer than leaders Benin, while South Africa remained second with 15 points. Rwanda’s defeat kept them fourth with 11 points.

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