Drama as Super Eagles Recite ‘Arise O’ Compatriot’ During W/Cup Qualifier against Benin
- The Super Eagles of Nigeria shunned the ‘Nigeria We Hail Thee’ national anthem during a FIFA World Cup qualifier against Benin Republic
- The Nigeria men's national football team recited the ‘Arise O Compatriot’ anthem at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium, Abidjan
- ‘Nigeria We Hail Thee’ was reintroduced after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed the national anthem Bill 2024 into law on May 29
Legit.ng journalist Adekunle Dada has over 5 years of experience covering metro and government policy
Abidjan, Ivory Coast - The Super Eagles of Nigeria recited the ‘Arise O Compatriot’ anthem instead of the newly signed ‘Nigeria We Hail Thee’ in an ongoing clash against Benin Republic.
Legit.ng recalls that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on May 29, signed the national anthem Bill 2024 into law.
Source: Twitter
The match is the fourth round of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers in Group C.
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According to The Punch, the Super Eagles players sang the now ‘old anthem’ at the beginning of the match on Monday, June 10.
The match is currently ongoing at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium, Abidjan.
Head coach Finidi George fielded a new list line compared to the one used against Bafana banfa of South Africa on Friday, June 7.
Goalkeeper: Nwabali
Defenders: Bassey, Tanimu, Ajayi, Osayi-Samuel
Midfielders: Ndidi, Onyeka, Iwobi
Attackers: Chukwueze, Lookman, Moffi
Reacting to the incident, NFF’s Head of International Competitions, Dayo Enebi Achor, said the Nigeria FA had provided a recording of the new national anthem to the Benin Republic FA authorities, BusinessDay reports.
Achor said the Benin FA authorities eventually played the correct national anthem of Nigeria before the commencement of the second half of the match.
Legit.ng recalls that Finidi George, the team's head coach, announced his starting 11 with Ademola Lookman and Terem Moffi leading the attack while Victor Boniface would remain on the bench.
Compared with the match against South Africa, George replaced Fisayo Dele-Bashiru with the goal scorer, Samuel Chukwueze replaced Kelechi Iheanacho and Moffi took the place of Paul Onuachu.
Also, Legit.ng reported that George had said his players and technical crew are aware that qualification for the 2026 World Cup is “what is at stake.”
The Super Eagles coach urged Nigerians to calm down, saying his team cannot be ‘running helter-skelter’ because of the draw against South Africa on Friday night, June 7.
2026 World Cup: What Super Eagles need to qualify
Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that a former Super Eagles international, Bright Omokaro, has explained what Super Eagles must do to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Omokaro said the Super Eagles players need more togetherness and rigorous training to qualify for the World Cup.
He added that the Super Eagles need to play as a team and have collective responsibility to get the expected goals.
Proofread by Kola Muhammed, journalist and copyeditor at Legit.ng
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Source: Legit.ng
