The Forgotten Premier League Striker About to Make World Cup History

The Forgotten Premier League Striker About to Make World Cup History (Steve Mounie)

The 2026 World Cup is right around the corner, and with qualification games coming thick and fast, things are heating up in Group C of the CAF World Cup Qualifiers.

With all the sides entering the final qualification game tomorrow night, things are still very much in the balance. Benin, Nigeria, and South Africa are all still able to finish top of the group. Benin currently holds the top spot, two points ahead of South Africa, who faced a points deduction after fielding an ineligible player earlier in the year.

🚨 Breaking:

FIFA deduct three points from Bafana Bafana for fielding Teboho Mokoena while suspended vs Lesotho. Bafana slip into second place behind Benin.

Full story: https://t.co/gVlbq9cEfr pic.twitter.com/JIrZNcvh0I

— David Kappel (@kappilinho) September 29, 2025

Benin have never qualified for the World Cup in their history, and a point against Nigeria could be enough to see them through as group winners, securing their flights to the USA.

So, a bit of luck for Benin, combined with 3 wins on the bounce, has seen them claim the top spot. But who's been the catalyst in their comeuppance? None other than Steve Mounie.

The former Huddersfield striker has taken the group by storm, scoring 5 goals in 8 appearances. But where has he been all this time? Did you even remember him? Be honest.

Full Circle: The Rise, Fall, and Redemption of Steve Mounie

The end of the 2016/17 season saw Huddersfield Town earn promotion to the Premier League, beating Reading on penalties in the play-off final at Wembley. Spearheaded by Australian cult hero Aaron Mooy, the Terriers were promoted to the Premier League for the first time in the club's history.

Good morning, Australia. While we slept, our Aaron Mooy helped guide @htafcdotcom to the @premierleaguehttps://t.co/zp26CX813f pic.twitter.com/Ocuaxfrs83

— CommBank Socceroos (@Socceroos) May 29, 2017

Huddersfield's lucrative play-off win saw them acquire a host of names for their Premier League campaign. One of the big names was then 23-year-old striker Steve Mounie, who was brought in to bolster their attack and lead the line. Mounie was an instant hit at Huddersfield. On the first day of the Premier League season, the Terriers travelled to Selhurst Park to play a new-look Crystal Palace side coached by Frank de Boer. Against all odds, Huddersfield beat Crystal Palace 3-0, with Mounie scoring 2 on his debut.

Steve Mounie, showing us all what it means to score for Huddersfield in the Premier League #CRYHUD #bbcfootball pic.twitter.com/uQ6ycVcE9F

— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) August 12, 2017

The end of gameweek 1 saw Huddersfield Town sit top of the Premier League table. The side would go on to survive comfortably in the Premier League this season, with Mounie scoring a further 7 goals for the side. Mounie forever etched himself into Premier League and Huddersfield Town folklore with his debut.

The following season proved tough for Mounie and Huddersfield - he managed just two goals as the club's Premier League adventure came to an abrupt end.

😔 Huddersfield Town have matched Derby’s record for the quickest ever Premier League relegation pic.twitter.com/4VLhtDd30E

— COPA90 (@Copa90) March 30, 2019

After another inconsistent year in the Championship, Mounie returned to France with Brest, where he rediscovered his touch and hit double figures in his first two Ligue 1 campaigns. His form dipped over the next couple of seasons, leading to a move to Augsburg in 2024, where he scored just once. Now, Mounie is looking to revive his career on loan at Alanyaspor in the Turkish Super Lig.

The Benin Revival

Despite his club career being in need of revival, Mounie's form for his national side, Benin, has been nothing short of clinical. Captaining Benin for a few years now, Mounie boasts an impressive record for the Cheetahs, and will be quietly anticipating leading them towards the unthinkable.

Random International Player:

Steve Mounie

National Team: Benin🇧🇯
Age: 30
Position: Forward

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63 Caps / 20 Goals

The Captain of Benin🇧🇯 has led his nation to their 5th ever AFCON, scoring two crucial goals in qualifying to get them just over the edge. pic.twitter.com/sd0IcP0LeW

— The International Break (@InternatBreak) August 7, 2025

Benin's qualification campaign was somewhat up and down in the beginning, and despite defeating Nigeria, they went on to draw with Zimbabwe and lose to South Africa. However, their last 3 games have seen them make a remarkable resurgence, with the side winning all 3 and taking 9 points.

On top of this, group leaders South Africa faced a 3-point deduction after fielding a suspended player in their fixture against Lesotho earlier in the year. This placed Benin top of the group, on the verge of entering the unknown.

Remarkably, Benin are now one win away from World Cup qualification for the first time in their history.

They won 1 nil v Rwanda today.

Beat Nigeria on Tuesday and Benin qualify.

Nigeria need to win to stand a chance.

& Benin’s manager is former Nigeria boss Gernot Rohr 😮 pic.twitter.com/1hlpbnVlo0

— John Bennett (@JohnBennettBBC) October 10, 2025

Benin are coached by the experienced hand of 72-year-old German Gernot Rohr, best known for guiding Nigeria to the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Under his watchful eye, Benin are looking to punch significantly above their weight.

At first glance, Benin's squad may not feature household names. But dig a little deeper, and you'll find a core of players sharpening their skills across Europe's lower leagues, which is a strong sign of growing quality and professionalism within the team.

When it comes to legends, Mounie may not quite be held in that regard for Benin yet. Few players, if any, shine brighter than Stéphane Sessègnon, the attacking midfielder who lit up the Premier League back in the 2010's.

Signing from PSG, Sessègnon joined Sunderland and later West Brom. His silky dribbling and flair for the unexpected led to him scoring 25 Premier League goals during his time in the division, earning his place among the iconic "streets won't forget" ballers.

Simply brilliant Stéphane Sessègnon! 🤩🇧🇯 https://t.co/BzVhFpQXBS pic.twitter.com/0THTCEtbxP

— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) October 8, 2025

Where Now?

Benin's World Cup fate all comes down to Tuesday night, which will be a defining moment for nation and their talisman captain Mounie. Qualification hangs in the balance, and so does his legacy.

3 wins on the bounce. ✅
3 cleansheets to show for. ✅
Top of Group C. ✅

One win away from securing a first ever #FIFAWorldCup spot. Benin have every single right to dream. 👏🇧🇯 pic.twitter.com/BiONNff1u6

— CAF_Online (@CAF_Online) October 10, 2025

Should Benin make it through, Mounie will no longer be merely remembered as the "forgotten" Premier League striker who bagged a debut brace for Huddersfield Town. Instead, his name will echo through Beninese football history, and Mounie will be known as the leader who carried his nation to their first-ever World Cup.

It would be a story of not just redemption, but one of footballing history.