2025 Afconq: Five observations from Super Eagles' 1-1 draw against Benin's Cheetahs

Nigeria advanced to the final of the 2025 AFCON tournament in Morocco after securing a 1-1 draw against Benin on Thursday night.

Benin took the lead in the sixteenth minute when Mohammed Tijani capitalized on a cross from Junior Olaitan, breaking free within the box to head the ball into the net.

While Nigeria spent most of the match trailing, they found their equalizer just nine minutes before the final whistle.

Victor Osimhen met a cross from Moses Simon with a powerful header, igniting celebration among the traveling Nigerian fans.

Allnigeriasoccer.com presents five observations from the game

Gabriel Osho debuts for Nigeria

Gabriel Osho made his debut for Nigeria, starting as a alongside Calvin Bassey and William Troost-Ekong in defense.

Osho was neither good nor bad was replaced at the beginning of the second half as Nigeria sought to find a comeback route after trailing by a goal at the break.

Benin demonstrated a robust defensive performance

The Cheetahs of Benin exhibited a strong and resilient defensive display, even in the absence of several key players.

They showcased excellent organization off the ball, effectively neutralizing Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen for most of the match.

This strategy made it challenging for the Super Eagles to generate scoring opportunities, leaving their attacking players largely ineffective throughout the game.

Goalkeeper Nwabali's error

Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali will be frustrated by the goal conceded in the first half.

The captain of Chippa United failed to adequately deal with a close-range header from Mohammad Tijjani, allowing the ball to slip through his legs.

Although the defenders made a mistake by leaving Tijjani unmarked in the box, Nwabali will feel he should have done better to prevent that goal.

Junior Olaitan menace to Eagles defense

Junior Olaitan proved to be a consistent threat for the Eagles' defense, showcasing an impressive performance that highlighted his skills.

He played a pivotal role in Benin's attacking efforts, providing the crucial assist for Tijani's goal and demonstrating his ability to exploit openings along the right flank, which caused significant concern for Ola Aina.

Olaitan effectively utilized his pace and technical prowess to spearhead Benin's counter-attacks, acting as a vital conduit for the Cheetahs to launch their offensive plays and take advantage of gaps in the Eagles' defense.

He came close to scoring early in the second half after an unfortunate collision between Calvin Bassey and William Troost-Ekong left him with an opportunity, but his shot went wide of the target.

Iwobi again fails to perform for Nigeria

Alex Iwobi struggled to translate his club form onto the international stage.

He started the match ahead of Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, who has been enjoying a strong spell with the national team.

However, the Fulham midfielder was unable to generate the necessary creativity to break through the Cheetahs' low-block defensive setup.

As a result, he was substituted for Victor Boniface in the 72nd minute in an effort to change the game dynamics.

Adeyemi Adewale

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