The Super Eagles host the Cheetahs of Benin on September 7 to begin their qualifying campaign for the next Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament.
While Nigeria are favoured to win, it is only three months since they lost to the same opponents in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
In what is rightly anticipated to be a fiercely contested encounter between neighbouring countries, here are five players on either side to watch.
Moses Simon (Nigeria)
Moses Simon has not started a competitive game for Nigeria since the 2024 AFCON semi-finals against South Africa, but is in line to halt that run in some style against Benin.
Simon has started the new Ligue 1 season brilliantly, scoring in both wins his club, Nantes, has strung together from their first three games.
And while he has not been on target for Nigeria in nearly a year, Simon's form suggests he is ready to make a decisive impact again for his country.
Steve Mounie (Benin)
Two games into life at Augsburg in the Bundesliga, following his move from French club Brest in the recently closed transfer window, Steve Mounie has had to settle for a bit-part role, coming on as a second-half substitute in both matches even as his team has picked just one point from a maximum six.
For his country, though, Mounie remains the main man, the primary source of danger upfront, as Nigeria found out during the last international break, when Mounie scored the winner in a shock 2-1 result.
The center-forward would be keen to reprise that role in the upcoming game, and the Super Eagles will be wary of the unique, potent threat that the big man poses.
Raphael Onyedika (Nigeria)
Like Mounie, Raphael Onyedika also scored in the aforementioned meeting, albeit deployed in a much deeper position.
The Club Brugge man is, of course, not Nigeria's go-to guy for goals — although, admittedly, he does have quite a few in him — and is valued much more for the shift he contributes at the base of midfield, most likely alongside the more experienced but also occasionally adventurous Wilfred Ndidi.
Onyedika has excelled there thus far this season for his club, continuing where he left off last term, and Nigerians could reasonably expect such high-standard delivery if given the chance by caretaker coach Augustine Eguavoen.
Jodel Dossou (Benin)
Joel Dossou is a big reason Benin has made such an impressive start to their World Cup qualifiers, contributing a goal (versus Nigeria) and an assist (vs. Rwanda) to their last two games, both of which the Squirrels won.
At 32, the winger may have lost a yard or two of pace, but his dribbling is still a key asset he retains and, on his day, is capable of beating a man with elegance and ease.
The fact that he has been invited by trainer Gernot Rohr, despite not having found a new club since his time at Sochaux ended over the summer, shows just how important Dossou is to the national team's fortunes, and Nigeria would do well not to underestimate the potential he has to do real damage.
Victor Osimhen (Nigeria)
It has been a turbulent, uncertain last few days for Victor Osimhen, during which a dream move to Chelsea and a lucrative offer from a Saudi Pro League side both got wiped off the board and left the reigning African Player of the Year scrambling for a new team before the European transfer window shut.
Ultimately, a loan move from Galatasaray has saved him from being frozen out by his parent club, Napoli, giving Osimhen quite the boost.
Against Benin, then, expect him to play with a spring in his step, even if a bit rusty from having not appeared in a game for club or country since May.
Being a player who thrives when brimming with confidence, the 25-year-old would be keen to prove a point to those who may have had reason to be skeptical about his form or even doubt his commitment to the Nigerian cause.
