BREAKING: Super Eagles Sing Old National Anthem Before Benin Clash

On Monday, during their fourth-round 2026 World Cup Qualifier match against Benin Republic, the Super Eagles of Nigeria sang the old national anthem, “Arise O Compatriots,” instead of the newly reinstated “Nigeria We Hail Thee.”

As reported by a NIGERIA NEWS 247 correspondent, the players sang the former anthem at the start of the game. This comes after President Bola Tinubu signed the National Anthem Bill 2024 into law on May 29, reinstating “Nigeria, We Hail Thee” as the national anthem.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the bill’s reinstatement during a joint plenary attended by President Tinubu. The final assent to this bill marks a shift from the previously recognized “Arise O Compatriots,” with both the Senate and the House of Representatives swiftly approving it.

Ahead of the match, Head Coach Finidi George selected Terem Moffi and Ademola Lookman to lead the attack, while Victor Boniface started on the bench. The Super Eagles’ lineup included:

Defenders: Bassey, Tanimu, Ajayi, Osayi-Samuel

Midfielders: Ndidi, Onyeka, Iwobi

Attackers: Chukwueze, Lookman, Moffi

Substitutes were Iheanacho, Boniface, Onuachu, Abdullahi, Dele-Bashiru, Onyeka Awaziem, Olawoyin, Igboke, Ismaila, Okoye (GK), and Ojo (GK).

The match is currently taking place at Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan.

Pressure had mounted on the Super Eagles following their 1-1 draw with South Africa’s Bafana Bafana in the third round of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers last Friday.