In a surprising turn of events, the Super Eagles of Nigeria, currently facing off against Benin Republic in the fourth round of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers, opted to recite the ‘Arise O Compatriot’ anthem instead of the newly reinstated ‘Nigeria, We Hail Thee.’
As observed at the beginning of the match, the players sang the now-termed ‘old anthem,’ reflecting a departure from the recently recognized anthem.
The development follows President Bola Tinubu’s signing of the National Anthem Bill 2024 into law on May 29, reintroducing the old anthem, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee.”
This significant change was disclosed by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during a joint plenary session attended by President Tinubu.
The swift passage of the bill through both the Senate and the House of Representatives paved the way for this alteration, replacing the formerly accepted anthem, “Arise O Compatriots.”
The match is currently underway at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium, Abidjan.
The Super Eagles faced mounting pressure after a 1-1 draw against Bafana Bafana of South Africa in the third round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers last Friday.