Tonight, Victor Osimhen fired a hat-trick for the Super Eagles to soar over Benin in a final Group C 2026 World Cup qualifier in Uyo to make it to next month’s Playoffs in Morocco.
Nigeria will now need to wait for the result of the match between home team DR Congo and Sudan later tonight to know who they will face in the playoffs.
They finished with 17 points from 10 matches and going by the rule stipulated by CAF, they will have 15 points with a +7 goals difference.
South Africa won the automatic qualification ticket to next year’s World Cup after they defeated Rwanda 3-0.
They finished top of the standings with 18 points from 10 matches.
In Uyo tonight, Victor Osimhen netted a hat-trick to shoot down the Cheetahs of Benin.
He opened scoring on three minutes before he made it 2-0 in the 37th minute.
He completed his hat-trick with another headed goal off a free kick by Moses Simon.
He has now netted 29 goals for Nigeria, eight goals shy of the all-time record set by the legendary Rashidi Yekini.
Substitute Frank Onyeka completed a 4-0 rout when he connected home a cross by Moses Simon in the 89th minute.
Super Eagles Starting XI (4-4-2) vs Benin
Nwabali – Zaidu (Onyemaechi 73), Fredrick, Ajayi, Bassey – Ndidi, Iwobi (Moffi 88), Moses Simon, Chukwueze (Olusegun 46) – Osimhen (Arokodare 81), Akor (Onyeka 73)
