Victor Osimhen’s sensational hat-trick and a brilliant strike from Frank Onyeka fired the Super Eagles of Nigeria to a commanding 4-0 victory over the Cheetahs of Benin Republic in their final group-stage match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
The Napoli forward was in unstoppable form, netting twice in the first half before completing his hat-trick shortly after the restart.
Brentford midfielder Frank Onyeka added the fourth, sealing a dominant performance for Finidi George’s men at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo.
Despite the emphatic win, Nigeria narrowly missed out on automatic qualification, as South Africa’s 3–0 triumph over Rwanda ensured they topped the group on superior goal difference.
With this result, the Super Eagles now sit third among the best second-placed teams with 15 points, behind Gabon (16 points) and Cameroon (15 points), while Burkina Faso trail in fourth with 14 points.
The race for the final World Cup slot remains tight, with Gabon holding the upper hand. They could seal a historic qualification if they defeat Burundi in Libreville tonight and Ivory Coast fail to win their home fixture against Kenya, scheduled for 8 p.m.
Both Ivory Coast and Gabon will play in front of their home fans in what promises to be a dramatic finish to the African qualifiers.
Fans hailed the Super Eagles’ renewed attacking spirit and Osimhen’s lethal display, hoping the momentum continues into the play-off stage or a potential qualification twist ,depending on tonight’s results across the continent.
