The Super Eagles of Nigeria ended their 2026 World Cup qualifying journey with a spectacular 4–0 demolition of the Benin Republic on Tuesday evening.
Despite a dominant performance fuelled by a magnificent Victor Osimhen hat-trick, the victory was bittersweet, as Nigeria narrowly missed out on automatic qualification after rivals South Africa clinched the top spot in Group C.
Following a hard-fought 2–1 win against Lesotho last weekend, the Eagles knew they needed a massive performance and help from elsewhere to secure direct passage to the global tournament.
Nigeria got off to a blistering start as global star Victor Osimhen netted a stunning opener in just the third minute. He then doubled the lead just before the break, heading in powerfully to send the home crowd into raptures.
Osimhen completed his brilliant hat-trick midway through the second half, showcasing his world-class finishing prowess. Midfielder Frank Onyeka then sealed the comprehensive victory with a superbly struck volley, rounding off a commanding display in Uyo.
However, the impressive 4-0 thrashing only confirmed Nigeria’s second-place finish in Group C.
The celebrations were tempered by the news that South Africa’s simultaneous 3–0 victory over Rwanda guaranteed them automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup, leaving the Super Eagles to rue earlier dropped points in the campaign.
Depending on the final standing across all groups, the Super Eagles may still have a chance through the CAF Playoff Tournament (which provides one additional slot via an inter-confederation playoff), but the automatic spot is gone.