Osimhen’s Hat-Trick Fires Nigeria to World Cup Play-Offs in Stunning Rout of Benin

- by Olatunji Johnson

The Super Eagles delivered a masterclass, thrashing their rivals 4-0 in a must-win match to keep their 2026 World Cup dreams alive and well.

In a performance that will be remembered for years, the Nigerian Super Eagles soared into the inter-confederation play-offs for the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a breathtaking 4-0 victory over the Benin Republic on Tuesday night.

From the first whistle, the team played with a ferocity and purpose that had been missing for much of their qualifying campaign, utterly dominating a Beninese side that had entered the match as Group C leaders.

The hero of the night was Victor Osimhen, who delivered a stunning hat-trick to power his nation to victory. The Napoli striker opened the scoring in just the 3rd minute, connecting with a Samuel Chukwueze cross to send the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium into a frenzy. He doubled the lead before halftime with a powerful header, again from a Chukwueze delivery.

Any hopes of a Benin comeback were extinguished six minutes into the second half when Osimhen completed his treble, pouncing on a rebound to seal a legendary personal performance. Substitute Frank Onyeka put the final exclamation point on a perfect night, tapping in a low cross in stoppage time to make it 4-0.

The emphatic win, which lifted Nigeria to 17 points, secures them a spot in the next round as one of the best group runners-up, pending official confirmation from the Confederation of African Football (CAF). Their World Cup fate now rests in a high-stakes play-off tournament in Morocco, where four African nations will battle for a single intercontinental slot.

The path forward will be determined by the upcoming FIFA rankings, setting the stage for a tense semi-final and final showdown as the Super Eagles continue their quest to reach the global stage.

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