Benin Coach Confident Of Shock Win Over Super Falcons In WAFCON Qualifier

28 Oct 2025, 07:32 by Ernest Victor · Naija News

Benin Republic women’s national team coach, Abdoulaye Ouzerou, believes his side can spring a surprise against the Super Falcons when both teams meet in the return leg of their 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Abeokuta later today, October 28.

The Amazons have a mountain to climb after losing 2-0 to the Super Falcons in the first leg last Friday in Lome. Still, Ouzerou insists his team has learned valuable lessons from that game and will approach the second leg with renewed determination.

“Having played Nigeria some days ago, we didn’t know the team well, but now we know the Falcons better, and on Tuesday we will play with all our chances. If we have just one chance, we will play it all out. We have a very young team and we are coming to try our best,” Ouzerou said during the pre-match press conference in Abeokuta.

He added, “We are young and we are coming to play with all we have so that we can qualify. We lost 2-0 at home, but it is not a scoreline that we cannot catch up with. We are going to play the game with all our strength, and we believe strongly that we can make it.”

The Benin squad arrived in Abeokuta on Sunday and held a single training session on Monday in preparation for the decisive fixture.

Nigeria, who hold a comfortable advantage, are looking to finish the job in front of their home fans. The Super Falcons were dominant in the first leg, with Deborah Abiodun providing two assists, while Chinwendu Ihezuo and Esther Okoronkwo scored to seal the win in Togo.

Head coach Justine Madugu’s team trained on both Sunday and Monday as they target qualification for Morocco 2026, where they hope to defend the continental crown they won earlier this year. The Super Falcons claimed their 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title in Morocco, coming from two goals down to edge the hosts 3-2 in a dramatic final.

The Confederation of African Football has appointed Madagascar’s Dominique Rosa Hanjavola as the centre referee for Tuesday’s clash. She will be assisted by Claris Simango of Zimbabwe and Hasimbola Rasoloniaina of Madagascar, while Grace Gimo from Zimbabwe will serve as the fourth official. Ghana’s Christine Ziga will act as match commissioner, and Senegal’s Ndeye Fatou Seye will be the referee assessor.

Kick-off is set for 4:00 pm at the MKO Abiola Sports Arena in Abeokuta, Ogun State.