2026 W/ Cup Qualifiers: Osimhen buries Benin, takes Eagles to US, Mexico border
The Super Eagles of Nigeria Tuesday kept their 2026 World Cup qualification hope alive when they defeated neighbours, Benin Republic by 4-0.
The Cheetahs, who prior to the game were on top of Group C with 17 points could not contain with the pace of the Nigerian attack as they conceded in the first three minutes when Victor Osimhen scored the curtain raiser through an assist by Simon Chukwueze.
After the goal, the Beninese tried to come back into the game but the Super Eagles defence was too strong for them to penetrate and it was Osimhen who again rose to the occasion to score a brace before the end of the first half.
On the resumption of the second half, Osimhen became the hero of the match scoring a hat trick in the encounter before he was substituted later in the second half.
Not done yet, Onyeka Frank scored the fourth goal in the dying minutes of the second half to put the game beyond the Beninese and ensure Nigeria book one of the playoffs ticket.
With this victory, Nigeria came second behind South Africa with 17 points, same with Benin Republic but with a superior goal aggregate and qualifies for the playoffs.
Meanwhile, South Africa topped the Group with 18 points beating Rwanda 3-0 to gain automatic qualification for the World Cup to be hosted by United States, Canada and Mexico.
