Nigeria got their 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign off to a strong start, overturning an early deficit to beat Benin 2-1 in Abuja.
The West African derby lived up to its billing. Benin showed no fear and took the lead in the 4th minute through captain Stéphane Sessegnon. However, the Super Eagles responded before halftime, with Victor Osimhen converting a penalty in the 45th minute to level the score. Samuel Kalu then secured the winner in the 62nd minute, giving Nigeria the three points.
Despite the defeat, Sessegnon remained optimistic. In a Facebook post, he emphasized Benin’s determination to qualify for AFCON 2021 in Cameroon: “My teammates and I fought hard yesterday against Nigeria, but despite my goal, we didn’t get the result we wanted. We lost 2-1, but it’s not over yet. We won’t give up until the very end. Our goal is qualification for AFCON 2021.”
Benin will now look to bounce back in their next match at home against Sierra Leone.
