'By beating Nigeria' - Benin's Cheetahs midfielder Olaitan eyes win against his father's homeland

As Benin gear up for their crucial Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Nigeria on November 14, midfielder Junior Olaitan has vowed that his team will fight for victory to secure a place in the 2025 AFCON tournament in Morocco.

Speaking with local outlet leonzedubenin, the midfielder expressed confidence that the Cheetahs can capitalize on the opportunity to qualify by defeating the Super Eagles in the pivotal encounter.

Olaitan was born in Porto-Novo to a Beninese mother and Nigerian father and was eligible to represent the Super Eagles but opted to commit his international future to the Cheetahs despite growing up in Nigeria. 

The Super Eagles currently top Group D, thanks to a ruling by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) that awarded them three points and three goals from their abandoned game against Libya.

The match, scheduled to be held in Benghazi, was disrupted after the Nigerian team was stranded at Labraq Airport for nearly 20 hours. 

This ruling has put Nigeria four points ahead of Benin, who are in second place, with Rwanda five points behind in third and Libya trailing in last place.

With the current standings, Nigeria is all but assured of qualification for the biennial tournament. However, the last spot remains fiercely contested among Benin, Rwanda, and Libya.

Benin is positioned favorably in the race, but a win against Nigeria would provide the Cheetahs a significant boost, especially as they also face Libya in their final group match.

Olaitan said that a victory over Nigeria in Abidjan would greatly enhance Benin's chances of qualification, helping them fend off the competition from Rwanda and Libya.

"We have the chance to qualify by beating Nigeria," he stated, emphasizing that a strong performance is essential for securing Benin's AFCON dreams.

The Cheetahs previously bested Nigeria in Abidjan during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, edging out a 2-1 victory despite conceding the opening goal.

That loss had serious repercussions for Nigeria, leading to the resignation of former Super Eagles coach Finidi George.

The upcoming game, set to hold at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Abidjan, promises to be intense, with Benin aiming to recreate their previous success against the Super Eagles while Nigeria seeks to further solidify its position at the top of the group.

Adeyemi Adewale

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