World Cup 2026: Super Eagles Restore Qualification Hope with 4-0 thrashing of Benin

Super Eagles salvaged Nigeria’s World Cup dreams from the cliff at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo, on Tuesday, with a scintillating performance that kept fans screaming in excitement throughout the duration of the win-or-sink final qualifying match.

Four unreplied goals, three super strikes from Victor Osimhen, and a late textbook fourth from Frank Onyeka sealed Benin Republic’s World Cup hopes and secured a place amongst the four best runner ups for the intercontinental playoffs in November.

Predictably, South Africa thrashed Rwanda 3-0 in Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit to grab the Group C ticket, toppling previous leaders, Benin Republic, from the apex of the group with 18 points.

There were wild celebrations in South Africa over the Bafana Bafana victory over Rwanda which earned the rainbow nation automatic qualification ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

With imminent exit starring them in the face, the Super Eagles fought like wounded lions to earn a decent 4-0 victory that squarely put them among the four best second place teams that would fight the play-offs in November. Many thanks to the goal poacher and Galatasaray top striker, Victor Osimhen, who redeemed the situation for Nigeria.

He did that by firing two quick goals in the third and 37th minutes to end the first half 2-0 in favour of Nigeria. Former AC Milan forward, Samuel Chukwueze, contributed both passes that Osimhen converted to goals.

When play resumed for the second half, Osimhen completed his hat trick when he connected Moses Simon’s lob to fire his third goal of the evening that took his goals tally in the qualification series to six.

Substitute Frank Onyeka sealed the fourth vital goal for Nigeria a few minutes after he came in to replace Moses Simon.

With Tuesday’s super performance and 4-0 goal line, the Super Eagles now occupy the third position in the over-all four best runners-up standings, with a strong possibility to qualify for next year’s global soccer festival if they stay focused and play as if their lives depend on the qualification.

Gabon lead the ranking of second teams with 16 points, while Cameroon are second with the same 15 points as Nigeria.

Burkina Faso are fourth but risk to lose out should DR Congo win later tonight.

Uganda that led against already qualified Algeria in Algiers, conceded two late goals to lose out of the fight to be amongst the four teams for the intercontinental playoffs.

The winner of the African playoff in Morocco will head to the intercontinental playoffs from where only two teams will join those that already qualified directly to make the 48 teams for the 2026 World Cup to be hosted by USA, Mexico and Canada.