African vice-champions in power If Nigeria defeats the Cheetahs of Benin Republic in a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign Matchday 5 match in Abidjan on Thursday, they would advance to the 35th Africa Cup of Nations final competition. Senegalese referee Issa Sy will use this information to guide a fierce strategy right from the whistle’s first blow.

The Super Eagles are riding high with 10 points, four more than second-place Benin Republic, who had a hiccup in Kigali during the latest round of games, after winning three of their previous four games (the lone tie being the Matchday 2 session with Rwanda in Kigali). Nigeria would almost certainly top the group going into the final-day battles if they win.

However, after their loss in Kigali, the Cheetahs, who now have six points, know they cannot afford to make any more mistakes since they may still be eliminated if they lose their next two games and Rwanda, who currently have five, score at least two points in their own last two games. If Libya defeats Rwanda in Kigali, the Eagles bump the Cheetahs, and the Knights thrash the Cheetahs in North Africa on Monday, even Libya, with just one point, may still surpass Benin Republic.

The aforementioned dynamics will make for a brutal 90 minutes at the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny in the heart of the Ivorian city on Thursday evening.

Coach Augustine Eguavoen is likely to start with the rearguard that faced the Mediterranean Knights of Libya in Uyo last month, which would include captain William Ekong and Calvin Bassey at centre back, with wing-backs Olaoluwa Aina and Bruno Onyemaechi. England-based centre-back Semi Ajayi is out due to injury.

Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Moses Simon, Victor Boniface, Samuel Chukwueze, Sadiq Umar, and Kelechi Iheanacho are in the selection pool for the forward positions, while Wilfred Ndidi, Alex Iwobi, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi, and the defensive midfielders Frank Onyeka and Raphael Onyedika are available for the middle positions.

Only the visitors are eager to try and get anything from the match, while the Eagles play for pride. If they win, Monday’s last qualifier against Rwanda at Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo will be an academic session.