The Super Eagles have booked their spot in the 2026 World Cup African playoffs after defeating Benin 4–0 in Uyo.
Victor Osimhen netted a stunning hat-trick as Nigeria cruised to victory.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria have advanced to the African playoffs for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a resounding 4–0 win over the Benin Republic at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Tuesday night.
Victor Osimhen stole the show with a brilliant hat-trick, while substitute Frank Onyeka sealed the win with a late goal. The result confirmed Nigeria’s spot among the top four second-placed teams in the qualifying round, securing passage to the next phase.
From the kickoff, the Eagles looked sharper and more purposeful than in recent outings. Their early dominance paid off within three minutes when Samuel Chukwueze found space on the right and set up Osimhen, who calmly slotted home to open the scoring.
The Napoli striker doubled Nigeria’s lead in the 37th minute with a powerful header after another fine delivery from Chukwueze. The home fans erupted in excitement as the Super Eagles went into halftime with a comfortable 2–0 advantage.
Six minutes into the second half, Osimhen completed his hat-trick with another precise header, this time from a well-placed free-kick by Moses Simon. It was a clinical performance that underlined his status as one of Africa’s most reliable finishers.
Benin struggled to contain Nigeria’s attack and resorted to physical play, earning several yellow cards. Despite their aggression, the visitors rarely threatened Nigeria’s defence, as Calvin Bassey and Semi Ajayi held firm, while goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali enjoyed a quiet evening.
Head coach Eric Chelle introduced fresh legs in the second half, bringing in Olakunle Olusegun, Bruno Onyemaechi, and Frank Onyeka. The changes kept Nigeria’s tempo high, and in stoppage time, Onyeka latched onto a pass from Simon to drive a fierce shot into the top corner for the fourth goal.
The comfortable victory lifted Nigeria to 15 points with a +7 goal difference, confirming their place in the playoffs despite Eritrea’s earlier withdrawal from the qualifiers.
Osimhen’s treble takes his international tally to 29 goals, putting him just eight short of the late Rashidi Yekini’s record as Nigeria’s all-time top scorer. The win also marked Nigeria’s first time scoring four or more goals in a match since September 2023.
For Chelle, the performance was a major boost after weeks of criticism over the team’s inconsistency. His tactical setup and player choices paid off, showing improved chemistry and attacking intent ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in December.
As the final whistle blew, fans in Uyo celebrated wildly, chanting Osimhen’s name in appreciation of a night that reignited belief in the Super Eagles’ quest for another World Cup appearance.
