Nigeria ended their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign on a high note, cruising to a 4-0 victory over Benin Republic on Tuesday evening at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo. Despite the emphatic win, the Super Eagles narrowly missed out on automatic qualification, finishing just one point behind South Africa and settling for a playoff spot instead.
SoftFootball reports that Nigeria’s ruthless display was a continuation of their resurgent form, having edged Lesotho 2-1 in their previous qualifier. The result showed a side rediscovering its attacking bite after a mixed campaign, but the damage from earlier dropped points ultimately proved costly.
Victor Osimhen set the tone early, opening the scoring in the 3rd minute with a clinical finish from Samuel Chukwueze’s assist. The striker who joined galatasary on a permanent deal from Napoli earlier this summer, doubled the advantage in the 37th minute, towering above his marker to nod home another Chukwueze delivery. His sharpness and movement kept Benin’s defence under constant pressure throughout.
The second half began much like the first, with Osimhen completing his hat-trick in the 51st minute after heading in a pinpoint Moses Simon cross. The reigning African Footballer of the Year has now taken his international goal tally to 24 in 40 appearances further underlining his importance to the Super Eagles’ attack.
Benin struggled to cope with Nigeria’s pace and intensity, collecting several yellow cards in frustration. Frank Onyeka wrapped up the scoring in stoppage time, finishing neatly from another Simon assist to seal a commanding 4-0 victory.
Coach Eric Chelle introduced Terem Moffi, Tolu Arokodare, and Bruno Onyemaechi late on to maintain energy and composure, ensuring Nigeria kept control until the final whistle. It was a dominant display built on quick transitions, disciplined defending, and fluid attacking play, arguably one of their best performances of the qualifiers.
After the game, despite not qualifying automatically the Nigerian team will be glad they have a glimmer of hope through the playoffs spots thanks to Victor Osimhen’s hatrick , the Nigeria national team via its official X handle shared an appreciation post for the Galatasary star striker. They posted:
Nigeria’s second-place finish in Group C, with 17 points to South Africa’s 18, means they must now navigate the playoff round for a ticket to the World Cup. While they fell just short of an automatic spot, the Super Eagles’ emphatic finale sends a strong message ahead of the next phase.
