The dark horse, one place higher than the national football team, collapsed in the final round! Ranked first in the group before the game, missed the World Cup after 0-4 and fell to third place

In a focus match in the final round of the African zone of the World Cup preliminaries that ended on October 15, the Benin men’s football team, a dark polo team ranked 93rd in the world, lost 0-4 to Nigeria in an away game, losing their ticket to the US-Canada-Mexico World Cup which was just around the corner. Their first trip to the World Cup has been postponed.

In the last round of World Cup qualifying, Benin defeated Rwanda 1-0 in an away game. After winning three consecutive victories, Benin ranked first in the group with 17 points. As long as they defeat Nigeria away from home in the final round, or draw with Nigeria and South Africa does not beat Rwanda by more than two goals, this dark horse, which is ranked one place higher than the Chinese men's football team in the world, will advance to the World Cup for the first time in history.

In the final round of the competition, Benin made an exception and chartered a flight to compete in the World Cup preliminaries. But the huge pressure still crushed this dark horse. Facing Nigeria led by Osimhen and Iwobi, the Benin team was beaten away from home.

They took the lead in conceding the ball in the first 3 minutes, and then they lost 2 goals in a row in the 38th and 51st minutes. Nigerian striker Osimhen performed a hat trick. In stoppage time, Benin's goal was lost for the fourth time. In the end, the Benin team suffered a 0-4 away defeat.

As South Africa swept Rwanda 3-0 in another match in the same group, Benin not only handed over first place in the group and a direct ticket to the World Cup to South Africa, but even failed to keep second place. After falling to third place due to a goal disadvantage, Benin's play-off qualification was snatched away by Nigeria.

The dream of the World Cup was so close, but it was torn to pieces after the collapse in the final round. Benin's journey in this World Cup preliminaries is indeed embarrassing.