Victor Osimhen, the prolific striker for Galatasaray, showcased an outstanding display by scoring his first international hat-trick in two years. His clinical finishing propelled Nigeria’s Super Eagles to a commanding 4-0 triumph over Benin in a pivotal Group C encounter during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, as reported by Soccernet.ng.
The fixture took place at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium on Tuesday, marking a crucial step in Nigeria’s quest for World Cup qualification.
Before kickoff, Nigeria’s progression depended not only on their own result but also on other matches within the group. A victory over Benin was essential, while a loss or draw for South Africa against Rwanda in Mbombela would have eased Nigeria’s path. If South Africa won, Nigeria needed to secure a win by at least three goals to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Benin started the match with high intensity, aiming to unsettle the hosts early. However, Nigeria quickly asserted dominance, breaking the deadlock within the opening three minutes. Samuel Chukwueze orchestrated a slick attacking move, delivering a precise pass into the box where Osimhen unleashed a powerful shot to open the scoring.
Despite conceding early, Benin struggled to create meaningful opportunities. Nigeria controlled the tempo and doubled their advantage in the 37th minute, again capitalizing on the synergy between Chukwueze and Osimhen. With Chukwueze closely marked near the corner, he sent a teasing cross to the far post, allowing Osimhen to outjump his marker and powerfully head the ball into the net, sending the teams into halftime with a comfortable 2-0 lead.
After the interval, Benin showed signs of revival, testing Nigeria’s goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali with a shot from Andreas Hountondji, which was expertly saved. Nevertheless, Nigeria quickly regained control, and in the 51st minute, Osimhen demonstrated his aerial dominance once more. Meeting a cross from Moses Simon, he contorted mid-air to deliver a stunning header that struck the post before crossing the line, completing his hat-trick and extending Nigeria’s lead to 3-0.
This feat marked Osimhen’s first hat-trick for the Super Eagles since his remarkable four-goal performance against Sao Tome and Principe in September 2023.
In an attempt to shift the momentum, Benin’s coach Gernot Rohr introduced Junior Olaitan in the 56th minute to add creativity, but Nigeria’s defense remained resolute. As the match wore on, Nigeria’s coach Eric Chelle made tactical substitutions, bringing on Bruno Onyemaechi and Frank Onyeka for Zaidu Sanusi and Akor Adams, respectively. Osimhen was replaced by Tolu Arokodare, while Terem Moffi came on for Alex Iwobi.
In stoppage time, Onyeka sealed the emphatic victory by calmly slotting home a low finish from a precise Moses Simon assist, finalizing the score at 4-0.
Despite the resounding win, Nigeria’s hopes for direct qualification to the World Cup were dashed as South Africa secured a 3-0 victory over Rwanda in the other Group C match, clinching their place in next year’s tournament.
Super Eagles Secure Spot in FIFA World Cup Playoffs
Following these results, Nigeria has qualified for the upcoming four-team FIFA World Cup playoffs scheduled for November. Alongside the Super Eagles, Cameroon and Gabon have already booked their playoff berths. Burkina Faso currently occupies the final playoff position but faces increasing pressure from DR Congo, who have a crucial home fixture against Sudan that could reshape the playoff picture.