It is not going to be easy - Ekong explains difficult Benin vs Nigeria AFCON 2025 qualifier

Nigeria's Super Eagles will play their neighbors, the Benin Republic Cheetahs, in a very important 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualification encounter.

The Eagles will enter the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny, the venue where they crushed the hopes of Guinea Bissau, Cameroon, and Angola at the 34th Africa Cup of Nations finals in Cote d'Ivoire earlier this year to finish first place in Group D.

Coach Augustine Eguavoen has welcomed the familiarity the players will face at the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny.

They also lost their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying game, earlier this year at the same venue to Benin Republic.

The Super Eagles got a 3-0 revenge for that at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium.

A brace from Ademola Lookman and a strike from Victor Osimhen sealed a comfortable win to start the qualification series.

Super Eagles of Nigeria vice-captain Ekong stated that the game between Nigeria and Benin Republic will be very difficult.

In a statement by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ekong explained the challenge Benin pose.

He said, “It is not going to be easy because the Beninoise are also chasing a ticket to the final tournament.

"However, our objective is clear: three points on the night.”

On Thursday, November 14, the Super Eagles of Nigeria play the Benin Republic's Cheetahs.

The game on Matchday 5 is set to begin at 5 p.m. Nigeria time at the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny in Abijan.

The game will be available on DSTV's Supersport and Afro Sport.