A Victor Osimhen hat-trick and a sensational volley by substitute Frank Onyeka ensured a 4-0 win over the Benin Republic in Uyo on Tuesday evening, sending Nigeria to the Four-Team CAF Playoff Tournament for the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals.
Before kickoff, he three-time African champions knew they would qualify automatically from Group C if they beat the Benin Republic by any margin and South Africa failed to defeat Rwanda in Nelspruit.
However, Bafana Bafana raced to a 2-0 lead over Rwanda at Mbombela, and not to be outdone, the Super Eagles also went into recess with two unreplied goals up on the Cheetahs at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium.
Osimhen Hat-trick Inspires Nigeria
Victor Osimhen wasted no time registering his name on the scoresheet, as he latched onto a brilliant pass by Samuel Chukwueze to put Nigeria ahead in the second minute, sending goalkeeper Marcel Dandjinou the wrong way.
Table-toppers Benin Republic broke forward in the 28th minute, but Nwabali punched Tosin Aiyegun’s effort from close range.
Osimhen, unstoppable, rose above everyone to nod home Nigeria’s second in the 36th minute, from a cross by Chukwueze.
Nigeria, coming into the second half and knowing that their only route would be the playoff as South Africa continued to pummel Rwanda in Nelspruit, did not take their foot off the pedal.
Osimhen was on hand again to score the third goal, as the ball rocked the crossbar from Simon Moses’ free-kick from the right.
It was Osimhen’s 29th goal in 44 matches for Nigeria – a remarkable tally that means he will overtake ‘Goalsfather’ Rashidi Yekini (of blessed memory) at the pinnacle of Nigeria’s goals haul with nine more strikes.
With 90 minutes on the clock, substitute Frank Onyeka rifled home a cross by Moses to give Nigeria a 4-0 win and passage to the continental playoff, which will take place in Morocco, 13th – 16th November.
Where Nigeria Stand In Africa’s Second-Place Teams
Meanwhile, Gabon, DR Congo, and Cameroon are the two countries ahead of Nigeria in the new table for second-placed teams across the nine groups, following CAF’s new method of calculating the second-placed teams following the withdrawal of Eritrea from the race.
Nigeria has 15 points with a goals’ difference of plus seven, as against Burkina Faso’s 15 points, plus six goals’ difference.
Also, only the group winners are automatically through to the finals in North America next summer.
The four teams will head to Morocco next month for CAF’s Playoff Tournament.
The winner in Morocco will proceed to the Six-Team Intercontinental Playoff, scheduled for the Mexican cities of Guadalajara and Monterrey in March next year.
Two teams will emerge and qualify for the finals in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
Furthermore, the winner from the African playoff will join Bolivia, New Caledonia, and two teams from Central America, and one from Asia.
