The Super Eagles of Nigeria produced a scintillating display in Uyo, defeating Benin Republic 4–0 in their final Group C match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup African Qualifiers — but their automatic qualification hopes have ended after South Africa sealed top spot with a 3–0 victory over Rwanda.
Nigeria’s star striker Victor Osimhen was the hero of the night, scoring a spectacular hat-trick, while Frank Onyeka added the fourth to complete the rout at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium.
Match Summary: Nigeria 4–0 Benin Republic
- Victor Osimhen (9’, 31’, 62’) ⚽⚽⚽
- Frank Onyeka (78’) ⚽
The Super Eagles dominated from start to finish, showing urgency and precision that had been missing earlier in the campaign. Osimhen’s treble — his second for Nigeria — reaffirmed his status as one of Africa’s deadliest strikers, while Onyeka’s late strike capped off a commanding performance.
Despite the emphatic win, Nigeria finish second in Group C behind South Africa, who secured direct qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup with their win over Rwanda in Johannesburg.
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Final Group C Standings
1️⃣ South Africa – 18 points (+6 GD) ✅ (Qualified for 2026 World Cup)
2️⃣ Nigeria – 17 points (+7 GD)
3️⃣ Benin Republic – 17 points (+1 GD)
4️⃣ Rwanda – 11 points
5️⃣ Lesotho – 9 points
6️⃣ Zimbabwe – 5 points
Nigeria’s superior goal difference sees them finish second, ahead of Benin on goal difference — and they now await CAF’s final ranking to determine if they will be among the four best runners-up advancing to the African playoffs in November.
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Post-Match Reaction
Nigeria’s interim coach, Eric Chelle, praised his team’s spirit and Osimhen’s brilliance:
“We showed character, focus, and belief. Osimhen led by example, and this performance proves what Nigeria can achieve when we play with unity and confidence.”
Osimhen, who now leads Nigeria’s scoring chart in the qualifiers, dedicated his goals to the fans:
“We gave everything today. The fight isn’t over — we’ll keep pushing for the World Cup ticket.”
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What’s Next
Nigeria’s fate now lies in CAF’s runners-up table. If they rank among the top four second-placed teams across all nine groups, the Super Eagles will advance to the CAF Playoffs, where one team will earn a spot in the Intercontinental Playoff for a chance to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.