Sports Mole previews Saturday's Africa Cup of Nations qualifier between Benin and Nigeria, including predictions, team news and lineups.

With a place in the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations up for grabs, Benin and Nigeria clash at the Stade de l'Amitie on Saturday.

Both teams are on course for qualification, but top spot is on the line as the sides are only separated by a point ahead of the match in Cotonou.

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Match preview

Nigeria kicked off their qualifying campaign with consecutive wins versus Benin and Lesotho, but back-to-back draws in the subsequent two games against Sierra Leone have thrown a spanner in the works.

The more notable of those stalemates was a 4-4 thriller in Abuja last November when the Super Eagles bottled a four-goal lead which they took inside the opening 30 minutes.

However, the 2013 AFCON winners need only one point from the final two games to complete the job, while one more victory would secure first place in Group L.

Goals in either half from Victor Osimhen and Samuel Kalu saw Gernot Rohr's men come from behind to claim a 2-1 win when the sides last met in 2019's reverse fixture at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium.

Overall, Saturday's visitors have a historical advantage over their hosts, who they have beaten in 12 of the 15 previous clashes, losing just once in that time.

Benin are also on the verge of booking their place at next year's continental showpiece that is set to hold in Cameroon.

Michel Dussuyer's men bounced back in style from an opening defeat to Nigeria, picking up seven points from the next nine available.

The Squirrels were held to a disappointing draw by Lesotho in the last round, missing out on an opportunity to move into first place.

However, they have another chance to do that this weekend as the current leaders come visiting, but they would need to claim a first win in four years over their visitors.

On a brighter note, Saturday's hosts are a force to reckon with on their own patch having not lost a home game since 2013.

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Team News

Terem Moffi and Taiwo Awoniyi have been called up to the national team for the first time as a reward for their excellent displays for Lorient and Union Berlin respectively.

Despite having not played competitive club football since October, Ahmed Musa was included in Rohr's squad list, although the German has confirmed that the veteran winger will not play.

Kelechi Iheanacho has scored nine goals in 11 games since the turn of the year, and he is expected to lead the line for his side in this one.

Jodel Dossou has won Benin four of their seven points so far with decisive strikes in games against Lesotho and Sierra Leone.

Saturnin Allagbe missed the reverse fixture and he is yet to concede a goal in three AFCON qualifying games, but he is faced with what is perhaps his sternest test against a potent Super Eagles attack.

Benin possible starting lineup:
Allagbe; Roche, Adenon, Hountondji; Assogba, D'Almeida, Ahlinvi, Imorou; Dossou, Djigla, Mounie

Nigeria possible starting lineup:
Okoye; Sanusi, Balogun, Troost Ekong, Aina; Aribo, Ndidi, Etebo; Iwobi, Iheanacho, Simon

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We say: Benin 1-2 Nigeria

A closely contested affair is expected in this one with both sides battling it out to secure qualification. We are backing the away side to claim a narrow victory and cement their place as group winners.

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