Nigeria’s Super Eagles have advanced to the playoff round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers after a commanding 4–0 victory over Benin Republic at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Sunday.
Victor Osimhen stole the spotlight with a brilliant hat-trick, while Frank Onyeka added a late fourth goal to seal the emphatic win.
With the result, Nigeria finished second in Group C, behind South Africa, edging Benin on goal difference. The Super Eagles also progressed as one of the best fourth-placed teams among the group runners-up in the African Qualifiers.
The team will now face Gabon, Cameroon, and Burkina Faso in the African playoff, scheduled for November 13–16, 2025, in Morocco, as they continue their quest for a ticket to the North American World Cup.
Nigeria started brightly, taking the lead just three minutes in when Samuel Chukwueze split the Benin defence with a fine pass for Osimhen, who calmly slotted home.
Osimhen doubled the lead in the 37th minute, heading in Chukwueze’s precise cross at the far post before completing his hat-trick six minutes after the break with a towering header from a Moses Simon free-kick.
Simon almost scored himself shortly after, forcing a brilliant save from Benin goalkeeper Dandjinou, while Osimhen was denied a fourth by another fine stop late on.
Substitute Frank Onyeka put the icing on the cake with a low strike into the bottom corner in stoppage time after good work from Simon on the left.
The victory keeps Nigeria’s World Cup dream alive as they aim to return to the global stage in 2026.
