Nigeria ended their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying marketing campaign on a excessive observe, cruising to a 4-0 victory over Benin Republic on Tuesday night on the Godswill Akpabio Worldwide Stadium in Uyo. Regardless of the emphatic win, the Tremendous Eagles narrowly missed out on automated qualification, ending only one level behind South Africa and settling for a playoff spot as an alternative.
SoftFootball studies that Nigeria’s ruthless show was a continuation of their resurgent kind, having edged Lesotho 2-1 of their earlier qualifier. The outcome confirmed a facet rediscovering its attacking chunk after a combined marketing campaign, however the injury from earlier dropped factors finally proved expensive.
Victor Osimhen set the tone early, opening the scoring within the third minute with a medical end from Samuel Chukwueze’s help. The striker who joined galatasary on a everlasting deal from Napoli earlier this summer time, doubled the benefit within the thirty seventh minute, towering above his marker to nod residence one other Chukwueze supply. His sharpness and motion stored Benin’s defence beneath fixed stress all through.
The second half started very like the primary, with Osimhen finishing his hat-trick within the 51st minute after heading in a pinpoint Moses Simon cross. The reigning African Footballer of the Yr has now taken his worldwide objective tally to 24 in 40 appearances additional underlining his significance to the Tremendous Eagles’ assault.
Benin struggled to deal with Nigeria’s tempo and depth, amassing a number of yellow playing cards in frustration. Frank Onyeka wrapped up the scoring in stoppage time, ending neatly from one other Simon help to seal a commanding 4-0 victory.
Coach Eric Chelle launched Terem Moffi, Tolu Arokodare, and Bruno Onyemaechi late on to take care of vitality and composure, guaranteeing Nigeria stored management till the ultimate whistle. It was a dominant show constructed on fast transitions, disciplined defending, and fluid attacking play, arguably one in all their greatest performances of the qualifiers.
After the sport, regardless of not qualifying mechanically the Nigerian workforce can be glad they’ve a glimmer of hope by the playoffs spots because of Victor Osimhen’s hatrick , the Nigeria nationwide workforce by way of its official X deal with shared an appreciation put up for the Galatasary star striker. They posted:
Nigeria’s second-place end in Group C, with 17 factors to South Africa’s 18, means they need to now navigate the playoff spherical for a ticket to the World Cup. Whereas they fell simply wanting an automated spot, the Tremendous Eagles’ emphatic finale sends a robust message forward of the subsequent section.
