2026 World Cup qualifiers: Finidi says Super Eagles focus now on Benin Republic game

Super Eagles head coach Finidi George says the team is firmly focusing on Monday’s must-win 2026 World Cup qualifying game against Benin Republic.

The team has arrived in Abidjan, the Cote d’Ivoire capital for their matchday 4 fixture, two days after drawing 1-1 against the Bafana Bafana of South Africa at the Godswill Akpabio stadium in Uyo.

‘We’re very much aware of why we are here and what we have to do. The players want to go to the World Cup and they have resolved to give their all in every game going forward.

‘We had our opportunities against South Africa on Friday and should have won, but that is gone and we face another challenge now.

‘We have resolved not to look too far ahead in this race. The essence is to take it one match at a time. Benin Republic is in our front now, and we must deal with that squarely,’ he told the NFF.com on arrival in Abidjan.

With only three points from their first three matches of the campaign, and going up against the Cheetahs who boast four points, the Eagles know they must fire on all cylinders and recreate the happy moments of the AFCON at the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny – where they won all three matches played there during the Africa Cup of Nations finals earlier in the year.