Nigeria qualified for the second round of the 2026 World Cup after they cruised to a 4-0 victory over Benin at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium on Tuesday night.
Victor Osimhen was the star of the show as he plundered a hat-trick before Frank Onyeka added gloss to the scoreline with a fourth goal at the death.
Victor Osimhen is making sure the Super Eagles get the dub 😤🇳🇬
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) October 14, 2025
He gets his hat-trick against Benin 💥
📺 Stream #WCQ on DStv: https://t.co/B0jLrQW5cc pic.twitter.com/JiYmQR6uYg
Eric Chelle's side finished second in Group C behind South Africa after pipping the Cheetahs on goal difference and they kept their World Cup hopes alive as one of the best fourth-placed teams amongst the nine runners-up.
🇿🇦 Bafana Bafana are going to the FIFA World Cup 2026!
— FIFA World Cup Stats (@alimo_philip) October 14, 2025
🌍 South Africa seal their ticket in style after a commanding 3–0 victory over Rwanda!
🇳🇬 🦅 Victor Osimhen’s hat-trick inspired Nigeria’s 4–0 win over Benin, but the Super Eagles will have to battle it out in the African… pic.twitter.com/vWmplRueRa
The Super Eagles came into the clash trailing group leaders Benin by three points in third place after both of them won their matches on 10 October.
The hosts got off to the best possible start when Samuel Chukwueze played in Osimhen with a defence-splitting pass and the striker slotted home inside the right post for a third-minute lead.
Gernot Rohr's side looked to respond and Steve Mounie fired a tame shot straight at Stanley Nwabali from close range on 14 minutes after latching onto a cross.
Chances continued to come at both ends as Osimhen directed a header over the crossbar from Chukwueze's cross on 22 minutes before Andreas Hountondji hit the side-netting from an angle on the right following a good move down that flank.
But it was the home fans who were celebrating again on 37 minutes after Chukwueze and Osimhen linked up to good effect once more, with the former delivering a pin-point cross for the latter to head home at the far post.
The Super Eagles put the game out of sight six minutes into the second half as Osimhen rose highest to steer Moses Simon's free-kick in off the underside of the bar with his head.
A TRUE WARLORD ⚔️! https://t.co/Wi8CVPSQeW pic.twitter.com/dS2JbsIOc1
— 🇳🇬 Super Eagles (@NGSuperEagles) October 14, 2025
Simon almost went from provider to goalscorer on 55 minutes as he forced Dandjinou into a fine save with a shot from close range.
Osimhen looked hungry for more goals and was denied a fourth by the out-stretched glove of Dandjinou, who pulled off a superb save to keep out his header in the 79th minute.
However, the Galatasaray star had to settle for a hat-trick in the end after being replaced by Tolu Arokodare two minutes later and walking off to well-earned applause from the supporters.
There was still time for substitute Onyeka to make his mark as he drilled a shot into the bottom left corner of the net following good work from Simon on the left to pick him out.
Nigeria (2) 4 (Osimhen 3', 38', 51', Onyeka 90+1') Benin 0
Nigeria: S. Nwabali, B. Fredrick, S. Ajayi, C. Bassey, Z. Sanusi (B. Onyemaechi 74'), S. Chukwueze (O. Olusegun 46'), W. Ndidi, A. Iwobi (T. Moffi 88'), M. Simon, V. Osimhen, A. Adams (F. Onyeka 74').
Benin: M. Dandjinou, T. Ouorou, O. Verdon, M. Tijani, D. Kiki, C. Hountondji, D. Dokou (R. Amoussou 67'), H. Imourane, A. Tosin (J. Dossou 67'), S. Mounie, A. Hountondji (J. Olaitan 56').
