By Frank Ulom
UYO (CONVERSEER) – Nigeria ended their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign with a commanding 4-0 victory over Benin Republic on Tuesday evening in Uyo, thanks to a sensational hat-trick from Victor Osimhen. However, the result was not enough to secure automatic qualification, as South Africa topped Group C following a decisive win over Rwanda.
Benin side entered the final group match with their qualification hopes dependent on the outcome of the Rwanda–South Africa clash played simultaneously. To book a maiden World Cup ticket, the Cheetahs needed maximum points against Nigeria while hoping Bafana Bafana slipped at home. Neither scenario materialised.
The Super Eagles, backed by a lively home crowd, started aggressively. Galatasaray striker Osimhen opened the scoring just three minutes in, finishing clinically from Samuel Chukwueze’s pass to give Nigeria an early lead.
The former Napoli star struck again in the 37th minute, towering above the Beninese defence to nod in another precise delivery from Chukwueze, making it 2-0 before half-time.
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Nigeria resumed the second half with the same intensity, and Osimhen completed his hat-trick in the 51st minute, racing past defenders to connect with Moses Simon’s free-kick. The goal all but sealed the match, leaving Benin deflated and short of ideas.
Frank Onyeka added a fourth deep into stoppage time, driving a low shot into the net after Simon’s hard work down the flank, to cap off a dominant performance.
Meanwhile, in Mbombela, South Africa comfortably dispatched Rwanda 3-0 to top Group C with 18 points. Nigeria finished second on 17 points, level with Benin but ahead on goal difference. Lesotho placed fourth after defeating Zimbabwe, while Rwanda and Zimbabwe ended fifth and sixth respectively.
Despite their emphatic win, Nigeria must now navigate the CAF playoffs, reserved for the second-best teams across all nine qualifying groups. The playoff winners will advance to an intercontinental tournament for a final chance to qualify for the World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
The Super Eagles, laden with talent, face a difficult path, raising concerns over the technical direction of the team during the qualifiers. Attention now shifts to the CAF playoffs and preparations for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, where Nigeria hopes to build on their runner-up finish in the last edition won by Ivory Coast.
