Nigeria went into their final-day clash with Benin in CAF qualifying Group C of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers in desperate need of all three points, as well as a number of other factors to go their way if they were to qualify for the competition.
While South Africa confirmed top spot with a 3-0 win over Rwanda, booking their place at the 2026 tournament, Nigeria managed to sneak into the qualifying play-offs thanks to a sensational 4-0 win against Benin.
Due to Eritrea’s withdrawal, the results against the bottom-placed sides in each group are not taken into consideration, meaning in the case of a South Africa victory, the Super Eagles needed to beat Benin by at least a four-goal margin to get a play-off spot.
Nigeria talisman Victor Osimhen showcased his superstar quality by driving the side into a 3-0 lead with a clinical hat-trick, and with time quickly running out, substitute Frank Onyeka stepped up to the plate to score a stunning volley in the 91st-minute, sealing the required 4-0 win for the Super Eagles.
With a place in the play-offs confirmed and the dreams of World Cup qualification still alive, we are going to take a look at some of the key points learned from Nigeria’s win against Benin:
Osimhen vital to Super Eagles success
It is no secret that Osimhen is undoubtedly the star of this Super Eagles side, but the Galatasaray striker only further demonstrated how vital he is for Nigeria in their clash with Benin.
One of the most clinical and lethal strikers in world football, Osimhen scored a brilliant hat-trick to lead his nation to a 3-0 lead after just 51 minutes, giving them the chance they needed to win 4-0 and book a second-placed finish.
It is hard to imagine where Nigeria would be without Osimhen’s striking excellence, even with the likes of Tolu Arokodare and Terem Moffi acting as back-up options, and Osimhen’s fitness now remains key for the Super Eagles if they are to reach the World Cup.
The forward has undergone his fair share of injury setbacks in recent seasons, and Nigeria will be praying that Osimhen remains fit and available when they enter the FIFA World Cup qualifying play-offs, with the striker likely to play a large role in any success.
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— Bet9ja: The home of #betBOOM! ? (@Bet9jaOfficial) October 14, 2025
Frank Onyeka's last minute volley along with Victor Osimhen's hat-trick sends the @NGSuperEagles into the World Cup play-offs! ?? pic.twitter.com/9U4qximdTt
Defensive concerns persist
Despite managing to keep a clean sheet as they marched to a considerable 4-0 victory, Super Eagles fans will still be concerned by the lack of solidity in defensive areas throughout the match.
Having conceded eight goals in their first nine matches, Nigeria conceded a number of significant opportunities to Benin, only for Stanley Nwabili to save or for lack of quality at the final moment to ensure the Super Eagles kept their clean sheet intact.
While Nigeria have the attacking talent to challenge even the best nations in the world, they must improve their defensive side of the game if they are to have any chance of reaching the immense potential that their stunning squad of players could reach.
Nigeria can still qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Nigeria’s 4-0 win ensured that they will enter the CAF qualifying play-offs for the FIFA World Cup, having finished narrowly ahead of Burkina Faso as one of the best four runners-up during the groups.
The Super Eagles move into the play-off semi-finals, where they are expected to be drawn alongside Gabon in a one-legged tie, which is set to be held at a neutral ground in Morocco on 13 November.
If Nigeria are able to progress past Gabon in that encounter, then the Super Eagles will move into the final against either Cameroon or DR Congo, with the final set to take place on 16 November.
The victor of the final will then move into another round of play-offs, this time an inter-confederation stage that is set to be held in Mexico in March 2026.
That play-off tournament will see six teams from five confederations competing for the final two spots at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, meaning Nigeria still have a long road ahead of them to seal their place at the world’s most prestigious tournament.
Comment below if you think Nigeria will qualify for 2026 World Cup!
1 Comment
by Jaysmoore
I doubt if they will qualify. They have tried anyway.