2026 FIFA WORLD CUP TICKET FINAL BATTLE:- Eagles, Cheetahs arrive Uyo for big showdown
The delegations of Nigeria and Benin Republic arrived Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital on Saturday, ahead of Tuesday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifying Series Matchday 10 encounter at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles earned a 2-1 win over Lesotho in Polokwane on Friday to put themselves firmly in contention for the lone automatic ticket from Group C, while table-topping Benin Republic scored late against Rwanda’s Amavubi in Kigali to pick up the maximum points and maintain their three-point lead on their West African neighbours.
Three-time African champions Nigeria fly from the South African city of Polokwane to Uyo, just as the Cheetahs’ delegation arrived about the same time at the Obong Victor Attah International Airport.
The circumstances are much like they were in 2001 and 2009.
On both occasions, Nigeria eventually scaled through to the global finals.
The ambitious Cheetahs, now on 17 points, are coached by Franco-German tactician Gernot Rohr, who qualified and led Nigeria at the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals in Russia.
Egyptian official Amin Mohamed Omar will be referee for Tuesday’s explosive battle, with his compatriots Mahmoud Abouelregal, Ahmed Tawfik Ali and Mahmoud Moustafa Elbana in the roles of assistant referee 1, assistant referee 2 and fourth official.
