Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong believes the team's familiarity with the Félix Houphouët-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan can inspire them to secure a strong result against Benin.
Nigeria will play as guests to Benin at this venue for the second time this year, following a 2-1 defeat in a 2026 World Cup qualifier last June and a 3-0 victory in an Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier in September.
Nigeria has fond memories of this stadium, as they played three matches there during the last Africa Cup of Nations, winning each one.
In the group stage, the Super Eagles defeated Guinea-Bissau 1-0, then overcame Cameroon 2-0 in the Round of 16, and finally ousted Angola in the quarter-finals with another convincing performance.
As Nigeria assemble in Abidjan for the crucial qualifier, Troost-Ekong is confident that their positive experiences at this stadium will serve as a motivating factor in their quest to overcome Benin.
Troost-Ekong: AFCON wins in same stadium to spur Super Eagles
“The stadium is a familiar one for us, and we have good memories from the AFCON,” Troost-Ekong said.
“We will focus on the positive results we achieved here and work hard for another successful day on Thursday.”
Acknowledging the challenge ahead, he added, “It is not going to be easy because the Beninese are also vying for a ticket to the final tournament.
“However, our objective is clear: three points on the night.”
Nigeria is aiming for a favourable result on Thursday as they pursue qualification for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations, set to be hosted in Morocco.
Currently leading their group with ten points, a draw against Benin would all but secure their qualification, leaving them with one game to spare.
