Nigeria sealed their place in the FIFA World Cup Playoffs with a convincing 4-0 victory over Benin Republic, thanks to a standout performance from Victor Osimhen, who netted a hat-trick.
With just a minute left on the clock and qualification hanging in the balance, Frank Onyeka came off the bench to score a crucial fourth goal and ensure the Super Eagles advanced.
Osimhen’s impact has been consistent throughout the qualification campaign, recording six goals and one assist, underlining his importance to the Super Eagles’ push for a place at the 2026 World Cup.
After the match, head coach Eric Chelle praised his squad’s resilience and adaptability under pressure.
“I am so proud of my players it wasn’t easy,” Chelle said. “Coming in as a new coach with a different philosophy, they had to adapt quickly, and they did. Now we move on to Morocco.”
“This is just the beginning. It’s going to be very difficult, but tonight I’m happy for the players. They played a great game tonight and two days ago. I’m also grateful to the fans they really pushed us.
“Everyone gave everything on the pitch. For me, they are champions. And of course, Victor Osimhen he played exceptionally well again.”
On the other hand, Benin Republic head coach Gernot Rohr expressed disappointment with the result but praised his young team’s effort throughout the campaign.
“It’s a big disappointment. We wanted to take Benin to the World Cup for the first time in history, and we knew we had to win here. But beating Nigeria at home is always a difficult task,” Rohr said.
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“We were missing two key players through suspension and had three more injured. A number of our players are competing in the fifth division in France, so there’s a gap in experience and quality.
“Still, I’m proud of this team they’ve done well throughout these qualifiers. It’s a young squad, and we’ll learn from this.”
The World Cup Playoffs will take place in Morocco from November 13 to 16, 2025, featuring Nigeria, Cameroon, DR Congo, and Gabon.
