Despite Defeating Benin Rep., Nigeria Misses Out On Automatic Ticket As South Africa Qualifies For 2026 W/Cup

By Owolabi Ayobami | 1 min read | Thesun | 6 days ago | 677 views

The Super Eagles closed their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign on a high note with a commanding 4–0 victory over Benin Republic on Tuesday.

Coming off a 2–1 win over Lesotho last weekend, Nigeria needed a decisive performance to keep their qualification hopes alive — and they delivered from the very start.

Victor Osimhen set the tone by scoring within the first three minutes, giving the Eagles an early advantage. He added a second goal with a header just before half-time, asserting Nigeria’s dominance in Uyo.

The Galatasaray striker completed his hat-trick in the second half, and Frank Onyeka sealed the emphatic win with a powerful volley late in the game.

The result sees Nigeria finish second in Group C, behind South Africa, who secured top spot with a 3–0 win over Rwanda.

With the victory, the Super Eagles have secured a spot in the African playoffs for the 2026 World Cup, earning one of the four slots available for the best second-placed teams in the continent.