Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong believes Nigeria earned a deserved point after battling to a 1-1 draw against Benin Republic in their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying clash, softfootball reported.
The three-time African champions were forced to come from behind after Mohammed Tijani gave the Cheetahs the lead in the 16th minute. Benin created several opportunities to extend their advantage but failed to make them count.
Nigeria eventually found a way back into the contest, with Victor Osimhen rising to head home the equaliser eight minutes from time, preserving the Super Eagles’ unbeaten run in the qualifying campaign.
Reflecting on the encounter, Troost-Ekong admitted it was a closely contested game but insisted the result was a fair reflection of the balance of play.
The experienced defender also expressed delight that Nigeria had secured qualification for the 2025 AFCON finals while maintaining their unbeaten record throughout the campaign.
Troost-Ekong pointed to the circumstances surrounding Benin’s goal, suggesting the Super Eagles were unfortunate in the build-up. According to him, Osimhen’s absence from his usual defensive position during the set-piece contributed to the opening goal.
Despite not claiming all three points, the draw was enough to keep Nigeria firmly on course as Group D leaders heading into their final qualifying fixture.
With qualification already secured, the Super Eagles will now shift their attention to Monday’s final group match against Rwanda in Uyo, where they will aim to finish the campaign strongly and preserve their unbeaten record before turning their focus to preparations for the tournament in Morocco.
