2026 World Cup: Super Eagles crush Benin 4-0 as Nigeria qualifies for playoffs

●Osimhen’s hat trick has given him 29 goals for Nigeria

Pius Ayinor

Nigeria’s Super Eagles put out a commanding performance in Tuesday’s 2026 World Cup qualifying match, beating the Republic of Benin 4–0. The game in Uyo was the last in the series and the result has kept Nigeria’s qualification hope alive with a playoffs ticket.

Victor Osimhen was the star in Uyo with a superb hat-trick. The Galatasaray striker opened the scoring in the 3rd minute, converting a pass from Samuel Chukwueze after a fast-paced recovery attack.

The Fulham attacker was again on hand with another assist to Osimhen for the goal in the 37th minute. Osimhen who has now scored 29 goals for Nigeria completed his hat-trick with a header in the 51st minute to make it 3–0.

Frank Onyeka who came off the bench made it 4-0 scoring in the 90th minute, firing home from the edge of the 18yard box.

The 4-0 win fixed the Super Eagles in the playoff stage of the African qualifiers. South Africa qualified from the group on the last day after beating Rwanda 3–0.

Gabon and Cameroon are the two countries ahead of Nigeria presently in the new table for second-placed teams across the nine groups, going CAF’s new method of calculating the second-placed teams following the withdrawal of Eritrea from the race. Nigeria bagged 15 points with a goals’ difference of plus seven, as against Burkina Faso’s 15 points and goals’ difference of plus six.

Only the group winners are automatically through to the finals in North America next summer.

Either Burkina Faso or the Democratic Republic of Congo (playing at home to Sudan on Tuesday night) will join the trio for the battles of Morocco next month.

The winner in Morocco will proceed to the Six-Team Intercontinental Playoff, scheduled for the Mexican cities of Guadalaja and Monterrey in March next year, where two teams will emerge and qualify for the finals in USA, Canada and Mexico.

The winner from the African playoff will be joined by Bolivia, New Caledonia and two teams from Central America, and one from Asia.