Osimhen’s Hat-Trick Heroics Not Enough as Super Eagles Head to World Cup Playoffs
Victor Osimhen delivered a magnificent performance, but it wasn’t enough to earn Nigeria an automatic ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
In a night of crushing mixed emotions for Nigerian fans, the Super Eagles soared to a spectacular 4-0 victory over Benin Republic in Uyo. Yet, as the final whistle blew, the spotlight was stolen by events 1,200 miles away.
South Africa’s Bafana Bafana extinguished Nigeria’s hopes of automatic qualification, defeating Rwanda 3-0 to top Group C. This result means the Super Eagles must now navigate the treacherous playoffs in Morocco this November to earn their spot at the tournament co-hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
Nigeria came into Tuesday’s final group match knowing they needed a win and a favour from elsewhere. The players, roared on by a passionate crowd at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, gave everything they had—led by a man who reminded the world why he is Africa’s most lethal striker.
It took the Galatasary star just three minutes to fire the Super Eagles into the lead, latching onto a sublime through pass from Samuel Chukwueze and slotting it past the keeper. His clinical finishing lit up the stadium, and the Galatasaray forward struck twice more, once before the break and again shortly after the restart, to complete a stunning hat-trick.
Substitute Frank Onyeka added the fourth goal to round off a dominant 4-0 performance, sending a message that Nigeria’s attacking prowess is back to its very best.
The victory secured Nigeria one of the highly-coveted best second-placed spots, giving them a lifeline via the playoff round.
The final standings reflected a brutal Group C campaign: South Africa topped the group with 18 points, while the Super Eagles were runners-up on 17 points, just ahead of Benin on the same total.
Head Coach Eric Chelle had rung the changes for this crucial fixture, bringing in fresh legs like Akor Adams, Semi Ajayi, and Zaidu Sanusi to the starting line-up. The match also saw a notable debut for Olakunle Olusegun, who came on before the start of the second half.
While the fans may feel the immediate sting of disappointment, the focus now shifts to the challenge ahead. The road to the 2026 World Cup is now longer, but the Super Eagles are still in the fight.
