Nigeria cruised to a dominant 4–0 victory over Benin Republic on Tuesday night at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, wrapping up their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign in emphatic fashion.
Despite the one-sided win, the Super Eagles narrowly missed out on automatic qualification but secured a playoff berth, keeping their World Cup dream alive regardless of results elsewhere in Group C.
Osimhen steals the show with clinical hat-trick
Victor Osimhen was at his ruthless best, opening the scoring in the 3rd minute after connecting with Samuel Chukwueze’s cross.
The Napoli forward doubled the lead in the 37th minute with a towering header, again assisted by Chukwueze, before completing his hat-trick six minutes into the second half from a precise Moses Simon delivery.
Frank Onyeka capped off the dominant display in stoppage time, firing into the top corner from another Simon assist to seal the 4–0 rout.
Super Eagles dominate in style
Nigeria controlled the contest from start to finish, combining sharp attacking play with disciplined defending.
Benin struggled to cope with the Super Eagles’ high press and tempo, resorting to a series of fouls that earned them multiple yellow cards.
Coach Eric Chelle’s well-timed substitutions, introducing Tolu Arokodare and Onyeka helped maintain intensity and focus until the final whistle.
Focus shifts to playoffs
The result saw Nigeria finish second in Group C with 17 points, just one behind South Africa, who topped the table on 18.
While they fell short of direct qualification, the Super Eagles’ convincing win ensures momentum heading into the CAF playoff round, where they will fight for a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
