‘Our Destiny is in Our Own Hands’: Benin Star Highlights Path to Shock Benin vs Nigeria WCQ 2026 Group Victory

Benin Republic’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign has been energized by recent developments, and one of their key players, Andreas Hountondji, is confidently laying out the strategy to seize the top spot in Group C, ahead of powerhouses Nigeria and South Africa.

The Burnley loanee insists that the recent point deduction handed to South Africa by FIFA has created a “real opportunity” that his squad “would be mad not to utilize.” The tight Group C race is set to culminate in a thrilling showdown, with the highly anticipated second-leg fixture between Benin vs Nigeria WCQ 2026 looming.

The Group C Shake-Up
The qualifying landscape shifted dramatically after South Africa lost three points for fielding an ineligible player. This ruling vaulted Benin Republic into a tie for first place with South Africa, both currently sitting on 14 points. Nigeria’s Super Eagles trail in third with 11 points.

Crucially, Benin already holds an advantage over the Super Eagles, having secured a win in the first leg of their two-game meeting.

Hountondji’s Blueprint for Qualification
Speaking to FIFA.com, Hountondji highlighted the pivotal nature of their next match, before they face Nigeria away from home.

“Our next match, against Rwanda, is going to be pivotal. If we manage to pick up the three points, we’ll be very handily placed ahead of our final game, against Nigeria,” Hountondji stated.

He stressed that with only two matches remaining, the team’s path to a direct qualification slot is clear:

“We have two matches to go, and if we win them both, there’s a good chance we’ll qualify directly. Our destiny is in our own hands, so we have to believe in our chances.”

Benin must secure maximum points from their clash with Rwanda before facing the Super Eagles in what is set to be a do-or-die Benin vs Nigeria WCQ 2026 match on Tuesday. For Gernot Rohr’s men, the message is simple: they control their own destiny and are ready to dethrone the traditional giants of Group C.