The Super Eagles of Nigeria on Tuesday cruised to an emphatic 4–0 victory over the Cheetahs of Benin Republic in their decisive 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo. A sensational hat-trick from Victor Osimhen and a late strike from substitute Frank Onyeka sealed the convincing win for Nigeria, giving the team three vital points in their quest for a World Cup berth. Although the victory was not enough to hand the Super Eagles the qualification ticket, group leaders South Africa confirmed their place at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico after a 3–0 win over Rwanda in Johannesburg. How the Match Unfolded Head coach Finidi George made four changes from the team that defeated Lesotho, with Wilfred Ndidi captaining the side and Moses Simon earning his 85th international appearance. Osimhen started upfront alongside Akor Adams, while Samuel Chukwueze and Alex Iwobi supported from midfield. Nigeria’s starting lineup included Stanley Nwabali (GK); Benjamin Fredrick, Zaidu Sanusi, Wilfred Ndidi, Semi Ajayi, Victor Osimhen, Samuel Chukwueze, Moses Simon, Alex Iwobi, Akor Adams, and Calvin Bassey. The substitutes’ bench featured Adebayo, Ekong, Arokodare, Onyeka, Onyemaechi, Abdullahi, Obasogie, Uche, Moffi, and Olusegun. The Super Eagles got off to a flying start when Victor Osimhen opened the scoring in the 3rd minute after a quick exchange with Samuel Chukwueze. The Cheetahs tried to respond with a counterattack in the 12th minute, but Calvin Bassey made a crucial interception to maintain Nigeria’s lead. In the 38th minute, Osimhen doubled the advantage, again courtesy of Chukwueze’s precision cross. Nigeria went into the break with a comfortable 2–0 lead, with ball possession standing at 58% for Nigeria and 42% for Benin. The second half resumed with the Beninoise side attempting to press higher, but the evening clearly belonged to Osimhen. The Napoli forward completed his hat-trick in the 51st minute, capping an electrifying performance that had the Uyo crowd on its feet. Captain Ndidi came close to extending the lead in the 68th minute but narrowly missed the target. However, substitute Frank Onyeka added gloss to the scoreline in the 90th minute, firing home a powerful shot that left the Benin goalkeeper stranded. Tinubu, Fans Commend Eagles’ Spirit Following the match, President Bola Tinubu congratulated the Super Eagles for their spirited display, urging them to “keep hope alive” as Nigeria continues its pursuit of a place at the World Cup. Fans and analysts hailed the result as a morale booster, praising Osimhen’s brilliance and the team’s renewed attacking flair. Despite missing out on early qualification, the Super Eagles’ emphatic victory rekindles optimism ahead of their remaining fixtures as they seek to secure a place in the global football showpiece next year.
Osimhen’s Hat-Trick Powers Super Eagles to 4–0 Victory over Benin Republic
