Osimhen Fires Super Eagles to Intercontinental Playoffs
Three goals from Victor Osimhen and a late fourth from Frank Onyeka ensured that Nigeria’s Super Eagles defeated Benin Republic 4-0 and booked a place amongst the four best runners-up for the intercontinental playoffs.
As expected, South Africa defeated Rwanda 3-0 in Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit to leapfrog Benin to the top of Group C with 18 points.
The victory earned the Bafana Bafana the direct qualification ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
But in Uyo, Super Eagles, who realized that the direct qualification ticket had slipped, had to put up the fight of wounded lions to be amongst the four best teams. And Galatasaray’s top striker, Osimhen, made that possible.
He scored two quick goals in the third and 37th minutes to end the first half 2-0 in favour of Nigeria. Former AC Milan forward, Samuel Chukwueze, contributed both passes that Osimhen converted into goals.
On return from the first half break, Osimhen completed his hat trick when he picked Moses Simon’s lob to fire his third goal of the evening, which took his goals tally in the entire qualification series to six.
Substitute Frank Onyeka sealed the fourth vital goal for Nigeria a few minutes after he came on for Moses Simon.
It was mission accomplished for the Super Eagles, who are now third in the overall four best runners-up standings.
Gabon leads the ranking of second teams on 16 points, while Cameroon is second on the same 15 points as Nigeria.
