Victor Osimhen delivered a masterclass on Tuesday night, scoring a sensational hat-trick to lead Nigeria to a dominant 4–0 victory over Benin Republic in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.
The Galatasaray striker opened the floodgates early in the first half before doubling Nigeria’s lead in the 37th minute with a composed finish that sent the Uyo crowd into frenzy.
He completed his hat-trick shortly after the restart, racing onto a defense-splitting pass before coolly slotting past the Beninese goalkeeper — a strike that underlined his status as one of Africa’s deadliest forwards.
Osimhen’s blistering pace, strength, and clinical finishing proved unstoppable all night, leaving the Benin backline in disarray. Frank Onyeka added the fourth in stoppage time to seal a resounding win for the Super Eagles.
The result not only restored Nigeria’s confidence but also boosted their qualification hopes, as they leapfrogged Benin to finish second in Group C, behind South Africa — keeping their dream of reaching the 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the United States alive through the playoffs.
