The roar was deafening, the relief palpable. In a performance that finally lived up to their “Super Eagles” moniker, Nigeria delivered a stunning 4-0 victory over Benin Republic in a dramatic, must-win FIFA World Cup qualifier on Tuesday, October 14.

The emphatic win has salvaged their turbulent campaign and booked a crucial spot in the interconfederation playoffs.


For 90 minutes in Uyo, the Super Eagles played with a fire and clinical edge that had been sorely missing throughout the group stage. The star of the night, undoubtedly, was striker Victor Osimhen, who tormented the Benin defence with an awe-inspiring hat-trick.


The electric atmosphere at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium had barely settled when Osimhen scored the opener in the 3rd minute, latching onto a sublime pass and finishing with ruthless precision. He doubled the lead in the 37th minute with a towering header, showcasing his aerial dominance.
 

The tension remained high into the second half, as Nigeria chased the necessary goal difference to secure their playoff spot. Osimhen eased the nerves just six minutes after the restart, completing his magnificent hat-trick in the 51st minute.
 

The final, decisive blow came in stoppage time. Substitute Frank Onyeka volleyed home a fourth goal, sending the stadium into an absolute frenzy. That final goal, making the score 4-0, proved to be the magic number.
 

While South Africa’s concurrent 3-0 victory over Rwanda secured them the automatic Group C ticket to the World Cup, Nigeria’s crushing defeat of Benin was enough to confirm them as one of the four best second-placed teams across the CAF qualifiers.

This means the Super Eagles’ dream is still alive! They have avoided the abrupt end to their journey that many had feared and now head into the high-stakes interconfederation playoffs in November.

The victory is a testament to the team’s resilience under immense pressure and a huge sigh of relief for the nation.

 After a shaky qualifying run, Nigeria has delivered when it mattered most. The road to the FIFA World Cup 2026 continues, carried on the back of a spectacular, performance against their West African neighbours.

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