In the wake of Nigeria's 2-1 loss to Benin Republic in their fourth game of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers on Monday, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has criticized the Benin Football Federation for playing the wrong national anthem before the match. This incident was reported to have happened at the Felix Houphouët-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan, Benin Republic’s adopted home ground.
Before the match, the Nigerian players sang along to the old national anthem, which surprised many viewers. The new anthem had been played during Nigeria’s previous qualifying game against South Africa in Uyo last Friday.
According to a statement released by NFF’s Director of Media and Communications, Ademola Olajire, the NFF had provided a recording of the new national anthem to the Benin FA at the Match Coordination Meeting in Abidjan on Sunday evening.
“We gave them the recording of our new national anthem, only for them to play the wrong one at the beginning of the match. We protested strongly and insisted that the Super Eagles would not start the second half until the new national anthem of Nigeria was played,” said Dayo Enebi Achor, Head of International Competitions.
The Benin FA eventually played the new Nigerian national anthem before the start of the second half.
Nigerians expressed their displeasure over the mix-up on social media.
“With that kind of confusion home and abroad, how can they concentrate and win,” wrote a fan, Nnamdi Daniel, on X.
Social media influencer Daniel Regha commented, “Nigeria has more national anthem than goals per match, thank you Finidi George, but the NFF also shares in the blame. Up Super Eagles.”
Another fan, David Pine, stated, “As image makers of the country, this is totally wrong and unacceptable.”
The confusion comes in the context of President Bola Tinubu recently signing the National Anthem Bill 2024, which reinstated the old anthem, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee,” as the official anthem, replacing “Arise, O Compatriots.”
The “Nigeria, We Hail Thee” anthem was used from 1960, when Nigeria gained independence, until it was replaced by “Arise, O Compatriots” in 1978.
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