Nigeria's Super Eagles will have to take the long route to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, even after thrashing Benin Republic 4-0 in Uyo on Tuesday night, October 14, 2025. Softfootball reported that it was a proper show of dominance, powered by Victor Osimhen's brilliant hat-trick that left the Benin defence speechless and a late strike from Frank Onyeka, but the celebration didn't last too long.
Yeah, Nigeria did everything right on the night, controlled the game, created chances, played with hunger. But then, in faraway Mbombela , Rwanda lost 3-Nil to South Africa, and that single result flipped everything. It meant Nigeria finished second in Group C on goal difference, missing out on the direct ticket. Painful. Really painful stuff. It's almost like deja vu from 2005 when Rwanda also couldn't hold Angola and Nigeria lost the spot.
Osimhen though, was in a different world. The Galatasaray striker opened the floodgates in the 3rd minute after a neat assist from Samuel Chukwueze, then doubled his tally before the break, cool and composed as always. He got his hat-trick early in the second half, rising high to nod home from Moses Simon's cross. That's six goals now in the qualifiers - top-class, pure striker instinct.