Group C's date with destiny: Super Eagles' mission (im)possible, Benin dream big
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Reading Time: 3min | Fri. 10.10.25. | 12:58
It doesn't get more exciting and complicated than this. All four teams - Benin, South Africa, Nigeria and Rwanda - are still in contention ahead of today's games
The Super Eagles are hanging by a thread - but the door to the World Cup has suddenly swung open again.
South Africa's costly administrative blunder - fielding a suspended player against Benin - has blown Group C wide open. FIFA's ruling awarded Benin a 3-0 victory, stripping Bafana Bafana of three points and catapulting a genuine chaos into the qualification race!
Now, with two rounds left, South Africa and Benin are level on top with 14 points, while Nigeria and Rwanda sit just behind on 11.
For Nigeria, the equation is brutal, but simple: win everything and pray! Victories over Lesotho on Friday (7 pm) and Benin (Tuesday 7 pm) could take the Super Eagles to 17 points - still short of the playoff mark, but possibly enough for a direct World Cup ticket if both South Africa and Benin stumble. Goal difference might decide everything: Benin (+4), South Africa (+3), Nigeria (+2). That's how things stand at the moment...
Victor Osimhen, the Galatasaray star and national talisman, will lead the charge in Lesotho, alongside Atalanta's Ademola Lookman, with Wilfried Ndidi and Alex Iwobi providing them with additional firepower. Anything less than a win would send them straight to the abyss.
🚨 OFFICIAL;
— POOJA!!! (@PoojaMedia) October 8, 2025
Nigeria can't make the playoffs in the World Cup even if they win the 2 games (11pts + possible 6pts = 17pts)
The only way is for South Africa to fumble one of their games & we win our both games.
The players mess up. pic.twitter.com/qXgFgnt0kK
Coach Erik Chelle faces a depleted squad, missing Aina, Osayi-Samuel, Onyedika and Dessers through injury - but the message is clear: attack, score, survive.
After years of being a World Cup mainstay, Nigeria now walks the tightrope, hoping discipline off the pitch costs someone else what brilliance on the field still might save.
WC QUALIFICATION AFRICA - MATCHDAY 9
Wednesday
Eswatini - Angola 2-2 (0-0)
/Figuareido 48,54 - Buatu 69, Papel 80/
Ethiopia - Guinea B. 1-0 (1-0)
/James 27/
Libya - Cape Verde 3-3 (2-1)
/Lopes 1 og, Al Mariami 42, Al Shalui 58 - Arcanjo 29, Cabral 76, Semedo 82/
Mauritius - Cameroon 0-2 (0-0)
/Ngameleu 57, Mbeumo 90+2/
Central African Republic - Ghana 0-5 (0-1)
/Salisu 20, Partey 52, Djiku 69, Ayew 71, Sulemana 87/
Chad - Mali 0-2 (0-0)
/Doumbia 19, 74/
Comores - Madagascar 1-2 (0-1)
/Said 81 - Couturier 11, Raheriniaina 73/
Djibouti - Egypt 0-3 (0-2)
/Adel 8, Salah 14, 84/
Sierra Leone - Burkina Faso 0-1 (0-1)
/Zougrana 42/
Niger - Congo 3-1 (1-0)
/Sosah 45+3, Oumarou 49, Adebayor 67 - Bassinga 90+4/
Tanzania - Zambia 0-1 (0-0)
/Sakala 75/
Thursday
Burundi - Kenya 0-1 (0-0)
/Ogam 72/
Botswana - Uganda 0-1 (0-0)
/Ssemugabi 55/
Liberia - Namibia 3-1 (2-0)
/Kosiah 3 pen, Bah 9, Ledlum 81 - Karuuombe 87/
Malawi - Equatorial Guinea POSTPONED
Mozambique - Guinea 1-2 (1-1)
/Mandava 19 - Traore 2, 59/
Somalia - Algeria 0-3 (0-2)
/Amoura 6, 58, Mahrez 19/
Friday
15.00: (16.0) South Sudan (10.0) Senegal (1.12)
16.00: (3.70) Gambia (3.20) Gabon (2.15)
16.00: (40.0) Seychelles (18.0) Ivory Coast (1.01)
16.00: (2.05) Sudan (3.20) Mauritania (4.00)
16.00: (3.15) Togo (3.25) Dr Congo (2.35)
19.00: (16.0) Lesotho (7.50) Nigeria (1.17)
19.00: (2.90) Rwanda (3.00) Benin (2.70)
19.00: (35.0) Sao Tome (14.0) Tunisia (1.02)
19.00: (17.0) Zimbabwe (5.20) S.Africa (1.25)
***odds are subject to change***
