Last night at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, Nigeria’s Super Eagles delivered a performance to remember,one that changed narratives, shattered hopes, and revived dreams. In a match that had everything riding on it, Nigeria routed Benin 4–0 to finish as one of the best runners-up in CAF Group C, securing a place in the playoff round on goal difference.
From the opening whistle, Nigeria attacked with urgency. Benin, who had entered the day atop the group, found themselves under sustained pressure. Victor Osimhen, restored to the starting XI, responded in emphatic fashion: he scored in the early minutes, doubled the lead before halftime, and completed a clinical hat trick with a header midway through the second half. As the clock ticked toward its end, Nigeria was still one goal short of their target margin, then Frank Onyeka, from close range off a Moses Simon cross, hammered in the decisive fourth goal in stoppage time. The stadium erupted.
That margin was everything. By virtue of that 4-0 scoreline, Nigeria tied Benin at 17 points but surged ahead on goal difference to claim the runners-up spot. South Africa, meanwhile, won 3–0 against Rwanda to top the group with 18 points and claim automatic qualification. Nigeria now travels onward to the intercontinental playoff stage, where they will compete for one of Africa’s remaining slots in the 2026 World Cup.
The weight of expectation had been heavy. Nigeria came into the fixture under pressure—not just to win, but to win by a large margin. Earlier in the campaign they had dropped points they could ill afford and went into the game third in the standings behind Benin and South Africa.
Benin, by contrast, had a chance to make history: a draw or win would have sent them to their first ever World Cup. Their hopes faded as the night unfolded. Compounding their challenge: key absences (such as Yohan Roche and Sessi d’Almeida) weakened their squad for this decisive tie.
Nigeria’s head coach, Éric Chelle, made adjustments despite suspension and injury concerns among his ranks. Ademola Lookman was unavailable due to suspension, and Ola Aina remained sidelined with injury. Yet Chelle marshaled his squad to deliver when it counted.
In the end, it was not just the goals or the margin, it was the timing, the resolve, and the performance under pressure. Osimhen proved once again why he is Nigeria’s cutting edge; Onyeka’s finish sealed the night; the defense held firm. The Uyo faithful lived through minutes of breathtaking tension until at last the fourth goal came, confirming the miracle that many had whispered about.
For Benin, the dreams evaporated at the very brink. Their fans saw victory dwindle into heartbreak. The night that should have crowned them fell into memory instead. Gernot Rohr’s team, leading the group before kickoff, now find themselves eliminated.
