Super Eagles midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru has voiced confidence in Nigeria’s readiness for their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match against Benin Republic. The match is scheduled to take place on Saturday, September 7, at 5 p.m. at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

Despite Nigeria being the favorites, Dele-Bashiru emphasized the importance of maintaining focus and not underestimating their opponents. He reflected on their previous encounter with Benin Republic during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in June, where Nigeria suffered a surprising 2-1 defeat despite initially taking the lead.

“We saw from our last game against Benin that it wasn’t easy,” said Dele-Bashiru, who is currently on loan to Lazio from Turkey’s Hatayspor. “We scored first but lost concentration, which allowed them to come back and win. We need to be prepared for a similar challenge, so we can’t overlook this game.”

Dele-Bashiru stressed the importance of securing all three points and approaching the game with full intensity. “We must enter the game with the mindset to win and be fully committed because the AFCON is a major competition, and both we and all Nigerians want to see us qualify,” he added.