Samuel Chukwueze shone brightly as Nigeria overwhelmed Benin Republic 4-0, with fellow Fulham players Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey also playing pivotal roles, securing Nigeria’s place in the World Cup playoff stage.
In a commanding display in Uyo, the Super Eagles triumphed 4-0 over Benin Republic. Despite the emphatic win, Nigeria finished second in Group C, which means they must now navigate the tense CAF World Cup playoff round.
Victor Osimhen‘s spectacular hat-trick alongside a goal from midfielder Frank Onyeka powered Nigeria’s victory.
Chukwueze’s performance was a standout, as he delivered two crucial assists that helped Eric Chelle‘s squad boost their goal difference significantly.
Fulham FC lauded the Nigerian trio’s impact on social media, highlighting their vital roles in this key World Cup qualifier:
“Our three Nigerian stars started and shone in a crucial World Cup qualifying match, with Samu delivering two assists.”
Despite Nigeria’s dominant display, South Africa’s 3-0 win in their final group match edged them ahead, clinching the top spot in Group C and the only automatic qualification berth.
Looking Ahead for Nigeria
Finishing as one of the top four runners-up across the nine CAF groups, Eric Chelle’s squad now advances to the decisive African playoff round, joining teams such as Gabon, Burkina Faso, and Cameroon.
This mini-tournament is slated to take place in Morocco from November 13 to 16, 2025.
The victor of this four-team playoff will not earn direct entry to the 2026 World Cup but will move on to the FIFA Inter-confederation Play-offs in March 2026, where they will battle for the final tournament spot.