Benin Republic will be without influential defender Olivier Verdon for their crucial matches against the Super Eagles of Nigeria and Libya in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers, Afrosport reports.
The 29-year-old has been ruled out of both games because of injury, Benin’s head coach Gernot Rohr confirmed on Tuesday.
🚨 𝗢𝗟𝗜𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗥 𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗗𝗢𝗡 𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗙𝗔𝗜𝗧 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗧𝗥𝗘 𝗟𝗘 𝗡𝗜𝗚𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗔 𝗘𝗧 𝗟𝗔 𝗟𝗜𝗕𝗬𝗘 ❌
Après l’absence de Cédric Hountondji 🇧🇯, c’est au tour d’Olivier Verdon 🇧🇯 de manquer à l’appel en défense centrale pour les prochaines rencontres des Guépards. Le… pic.twitter.com/EzSW0C48DL
— Bénin Football 🇧🇯🐆 (@FootballBenin) November 12, 2024
Verdon has been an ever-present figure in the Cheetahs defence during the AFCON 2025 qualifiers, having played in all four of their games, including garnering three starts.
His injury coincides with that of Cédric Hountondji, who had already been ruled out of the game due to injury.
The Cheetahs will host the Super Eagles at the Stade Felix Houphouet Boigny in Abidjan on Thursday before heading to Tripoli to take on the Mediterranean Knights of Libya four days later.
Benin sits second in Group D with six points and will be looking to solidify their claim for a spot in next year’s AFCON finals in Morocco with a win over Nigeria.
You can watch the AFCON 2025 Qualifiers encounter between Benin Republic and the Super Eagles of Nigeria LIVE on Afrosport TV, and anyone in Nigeria can also stream for FREE on Afrosport TV Facebook page and via the VIDIVU online portal.
