3 weeks ago
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Nigeria kept their World Cup hopes live with a commanding 4-0 triumph implicit Benin successful Uyo connected Tuesday night, securing a spot successful the playoffs of the 2026 FIFA World Cup African qualifiers.
The Super Eagles produced 1 of their astir implicit performances of the qualifying campaign, led by an inspired show from Victor Osimhen, who netted a superb hat-trick earlier Frank Onyeka rounded disconnected the scoring precocious on.
It took Nigeria conscionable 3 minutes to interruption the deadlock, with Osimhen firing location from a clever walk by Samuel Chukwueze to springiness the hosts an aboriginal lead. The Napoli striker doubled the vantage midway done the archetypal half, rising highest to caput location different Chukwueze delivery.
Despite Benin’s champion efforts to find a response, Nigeria remained dominant. The visitors created respective half-chances, but goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali was crisp and the antiaircraft pairing of Calvin Bassey and Bright Osayi-Samuel kept things choky astatine the back.
Osimhen completed his hat-trick successful the 51st infinitesimal with a composed decorativeness to each but seal the result, further underlining wherefore helium remains 1 of Africa’s apical strikers. Nigeria continued to propulsion forward, with substitutes Olakunle Olusegun and Terem Moffi adding caller vigor successful attack.
Benin, contempt trailing heavily, inactive had a mathematical accidental of finishing 2nd but failed to capitalize connected their fewer opportunities. Their vexation was compounded precocious connected erstwhile Frank Onyeka added a 4th extremity successful the 90th infinitesimal aft a superb tally and transverse from Moses Simon.
The effect means Nigeria finishes 2nd successful Group C and advances to the playoff signifier of the CAF qualifiers, keeping live their imagination of booking a spot astatine the 2026 FIFA World Cup to beryllium co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
The station 2026 WCQ: Nigeria heads to playoff aft 4-0 triumph implicit Benin appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.
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