What opponents should Gernot Rohr’s troops watch out for when they met in Porto-Novo on Saturday?
At the meeting between Benin and Nigeria on Saturday in Porto-Novo, the two best teams in Group L will fight for qualification for the African Cup of Nations next year in Cameroon.
Nigeria are eight points ahead, this weekend’s opponents are only one point behind and the squirrels will try to get better after falling 2-1 to their West African neighbors.
Gernot Rohr’s team is a victory when it comes to guaranteeing progress to the continental showpiece, but Michel Dussuyer’s formidable troops stand in their way.
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Steve Mounie
Undoubtedly, the Stade Brestois frontman is the standout dangerman for Benin against Nigeria on Saturday.
While Mounie hasn’t yet found the back of the net for the Squirrels in qualifying, the aerial threat is not to be underestimated, and the striker’s seven goals in Ligue 1 mean the Super Eagles are ahead of the 26th threat -Year-olds should beware -old
Underestimating the threat posed by the mid-air striker, as well as his penchant for smart positions in the box, could hurt the visitors’ chances of winning at Porto-Novo.
Jodel Dossou
Benin’s top scorer after four games needs to be singled out due to the threat he poses widely.
Dossou scored the winner against Lesotho and Sierra Leone, and the Squirrels won four of their seven points in qualifying.
The Clermont Foot winger has scored ten goals in Ligue 2 and should not be underestimated as he may hold the key to unlocking the Nigerian defense.
Saturnin Allagbe
The shot stopper missed the second leg against Nigeria, but came into the team really well.
Allagbe have been clean sheets since returning to Dussuyer’s side and Lesotho have failed to score twice in November.
Given that Benin’s defense has not been injured in three games, the Dijon goalkeeper will be looking to defeat Gernot Rohr’s side this weekend to extend the number of goals conceded to four.
Cedric Hountondji
While Allagbe’s influence on goal cannot be diminished, Hountondji has only conceded two goals in four games.
The Clermont defender was immense at the heart of the defense and should concede a fourth goal as Benin in qualifying.
With Kelechi Iheanacho’s recent shot on goal in Leicester City, the equally formidable center-back will enjoy silencing the Nigerian striker who is expected to start alongside Victor Osimhen.
Meeting D’Almeida
In the central midfield, the lively nature of D’Almeida could make the encounter less easy than observers believe.
The Valenciennes man likes to hang in the middle of the park and end the game and he won’t be shy of being followed against Benin’s famous opponents as the Squirrels aim for a shocking win over Gernot Rohr’s team.
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