Nigeria keep World Cup hopes alive with huge win over Benin, Super Eagles qualify for playoffs
Victor Osimhen delivered a masterclass as Nigeria stormed to a dramatic 4-0 win over Benin, sealing a crucial place in the CAF World Cup qualification playoffs in sensational fashion.
Facing elimination, Nigeria needed a big win in their final Group C fixture and they wasted no time. Osimhen fired the Super Eagles into the lead just three minutes in, racing through to calmly finish past the Benin goalkeeper.
The Galatasaray striker doubled his tally with a superb header in the 37th minute, connecting with a pinpoint cross from Samuel Chukwueze, who tormented the Benin defense throughout the first half.
Chukwueze was forced off at halftime, but Nigeria maintained their momentum. Just after the break, Moses Simon set up Osimhen for his third of the night a clinical finish that completed a memorable hat-trick for the Napoli forward.
Yet with South Africa comfortably dispatching Rwanda 3-0 to secure top spot and automatic qualification, Nigeria still needed one more goal to boost their goal difference and climb above Burkina Faso in the race for a playoff berth.
That decisive moment came in the 90th minute. Simon, again the creator, weaved his way to the byline and lofted a delicate cross into the box. Substitute Frank Onyeka met it with a thunderous volley, sealing the result and igniting wild celebrations on the Nigerian bench.
Onyeka’s late strike proved decisive, pushing Nigeria’s goal difference above that of Burkina Faso and into third place in the CAF second-place rankings enough to secure one of four spots in next month’s World Cup qualification playoffs.
Benin, who had begun the day as Group C leaders and dreaming of a historic first World Cup appearance, saw their hopes dashed by a Nigerian side that finally delivered at the crucial moment.
CAF Second-Place Rankings (Race for Playoff Spot)
1. Gabon – Played: 7 | GD: +4 | Points: 16
2. Cameroon – Played: 8 | GD: +9 | Points: 15
3. Nigeria – Played: 8 | GD: +7 | Points: 15
4. Burkina Faso – Played: 8 | GD: +6 | Points: 15
5. Niger – Played: 8 | GD: +1 | Points: 15
6. DR Congo – Played: 7 | GD: +4 | Points: 13
7. Madagascar – Played: 8 | GD: 0 | Points: 13
8. Uganda – Played: 8 | GD: +3 | Points: 12
9. Namibia – Played: 8 | GD: -2 | Points: 9
Onyeka’s dramatic late volley proved crucial, not just for the result, but for Nigeria’s position in the race for the CAF World Cup playoffs. The 4-0 win pushed the Super Eagles above Burkina Faso into *fourth* place in the overall second-place rankings, thanks to a superior goal difference.
But the playoff picture isn’t finalized yet.
If *DR Congo beat Sudan later tonight, they will move up to third in the standings. That would drop Burkina Faso to fifth, while Nigeria would remain fourth, securing the final spot in the four-team playoff to determine CAF’s representative in the inter-confederation playoff.
Nigeria now control their own fate and will be watching closely as DR Congo aim to wrap up the night with a win that would officially punch Nigeria’s ticket to the next round.
