Victor Osimhen delivered a stunning hat-trick as Nigeria thrashed Benin Republic 4–0 in Uyo on Tuesday, 14 October, 2025, to keep their 2026 FIFA World Cup hopes alive through the playoffs.
Despite the emphatic win, the Super Eagles narrowly missed out on automatic qualification as South Africa sealed top spot in Group C with a 3–0 win over Rwanda in Johannesburg.
Osimhen’s clinical finishing lit up the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, reaffirming his status as Africa’s most lethal striker.
The Galatasaray forward struck twice in the first half and completed his treble shortly after the restart, while substitute Frank Onyeka added the fourth to round off a dominant performance.
Nigeria entered the game needing victory and a favourable result elsewhere. While they delivered in Uyo with one of their most complete displays of the campaign, South Africa’s win meant the Super Eagles finished second in Group C, one point short of automatic qualification.
The outcome sums up Nigeria’s turbulent qualifying run — flashes of brilliance overshadowed by missed chances in earlier draws against Lesotho and Zimbabwe.
