The Super Eagles of Nigeria delivered a dominant performance on Tuesday, thrashing the Cheetahs of Benin Republic 4-0 in a crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo.
A sensational hat-trick from Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, along with a late goal from substitute Frank Onyeka, secured a comfortable three points for Nigeria. However, the emphatic win was not enough to guarantee qualification, as group leaders South Africa sealed their World Cup spot with a 3-0 victory over Rwanda.
Nigeria made four changes to the team that defeated Lesotho, with Wilfred Ndidi captaining the side and Moses Simon marking his 85th international appearance. Osimhen partnered with Akor Adams in the attack.
Starting XI: Stanley Nwabali (GK); 2. Benjamin Fredrick, 3. Zaidu Sanusi, 4. Wilfred Ndidi (C), 6. Semi Ajayi, 9. Victor Osimhen, 11. Samuel Chukwueze, 15. Moses Simon, 17. Alex Iwobi, 20. Akor Adams, 21. Calvin Bassey
Substitutes: Adebayo, Ekong, Arokodare, Onyeka, Onyemaechi, Abdullahi, Obasogie, Uche, Moffi, Olusegun
First Half: Osimhen double gives Eagles commanding lead
Nigeria started brightly, with Osimhen opening the scoring in just the 3rd minute after connecting with a low cross from Samuel Chukwueze.
Benin Republic responded with urgency and came close to an equalizer in the 12th minute, but a crucial intervention by Calvin Bassey preserved Nigeria’s lead.
With Nigeria dominating 58% of possession in the opening stages, Osimhen almost doubled the lead in the 22nd minute, narrowly missing a chance from inside the box.
However, the pressure paid off in the 38th minute when Chukwueze again turned provider, sending in another dangerous cross that Osimhen buried with clinical precision to make it 2–0.
Five minutes of added time were signaled by Egyptian referee Ahmed Nagy, but the score remained unchanged heading into the break.
Second Half: Hat-trick hero and a final flourish
Benin resumed with intensity, but their hopes were dashed just six minutes into the second half when Osimhen completed his hat-trick in the 51st minute, his third goal a display of individual brilliance and attacking instinct.
The Super Eagles continued to pile on the pressure. Wilfred Ndidi came close to adding a fourth in the 68th minute but failed to convert a promising opportunity inside the box.
The final goal arrived in the dying moments of the match. In the 90th minute, substitute Frank Onyeka fired a powerful shot past the Beninoise goalkeeper to cap off the dominant performance and make it 4-0.
Despite the resounding win, Nigeria fell short of automatic qualification as South Africa’s win over Rwanda ensured they topped the group.
Nevertheless, the Super Eagles’ spirited performance — led by Osimhen’s masterclass — reaffirmed their quality and determination. The team will now look ahead to potential qualification opportunities via other routes as the road to the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico continues.
