By SCM Staff Writer I Tuesday, October 14, 2025
UYO, Nigeria – Victor Osimhen bagged a sensational hat-trick as Nigeria’s Super Eagles crushed Benin Republic 4-0 to book their spot in the crucial Four-Team CAF Playoff Tournament for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Napoli star was utterly unstoppable as the three-time African champions battered the ‘Cheetahs’ in Uyo on Tuesday evening, leaving the stadium rocking and his side one step closer to North America.
While South Africa’s Bafana Bafana raced to an early lead against Rwanda in a parallel fixture, the Super Eagles were in no mood to hang around, knowing nothing less than a win would suffice.
Osimhen wasted no time in making his mark, latching onto a brilliant pass from Samuel Chukwueze in just the second minute to slot the ball past Benin keeper Marcel Dandjinou.
Despite some close calls at the other end, with Nigeria’s Stanley Nwabali pulling off a stunning save from Steve Mounié, the Super Eagles remained dominant.
The main man struck again in the 36th minute, rising high above the defence to nod home a cross, again provided by the excellent Chukwueze.
The second half brought more of the same, with the relentless Osimhen completing his magnificent hat-trick after a Simon Moses free-kick cannoned off the crossbar, leaving the striker with an easy finish for his third.
The treble marks Osimhen’s 29th goal in just 44 matches for his country. The prolific striker now needs just nine more to overtake the legendary ‘Goalsfather’ Rashidi Yekini’s all-time Nigeria scoring record—a feat that now looks inevitable.
With the clock hitting 90 minutes, substitute Frank Onyeka provided the icing on the cake, rifling home a powerful pile-driver from a Moses cross to seal the 4-0 rout and punch Nigeria’s ticket to the continental playoffs.
The victory means Nigeria are now amongst the best runners-up from the nine CAF groups, currently sitting behind Gabon and Cameroon on the revised table.
The dramatic Four-Team Playoff Tournament will take place in Morocco from November 13th – 16th, with the winner advancing to the Six-Team Intercontinental Playoff in Mexico next March.
Nigeria now waits to see whether Burkina Faso or the Democratic Republic of Congo will join them in the make-or-break tournament.
