Nigeria ended their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign on a high note, cruising to a 4-0 victory over Benin Republic on Tuesday evening at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo. Despite the emphatic win, the Super Eagles narrowly missed out on automatic qualification, finishing just one point behind South Africa and settling for a playoff spot instead.
SoftFootball reports that Nigeria's ruthless display was a continuation of their resurgent form, having edged Lesotho 2-1 in their previous qualifier . The result showed a side rediscovering its attacking bite after a mixed campaign, but the damage from earlier dropped points ultimately proved costly.
Victor Osimhen set the tone early, opening the scoring in the 3rd minute with a clinical finish from Samuel Chukwueze's assist. The striker who joined galatasary on a permanent deal from Napoli earlier this summer, doubled the advantage in the 37th minute, towering above his marker to nod home another Chukwueze delivery. His sharpness and movement kept Benin's defence under constant pressure throughout.