Osimhen’s Historic Hat Trick Inspires Nigeria’s Ruthless 4-0 Victory Over Benin, Super Eagles Soar Toward World Cup Qualification

Under the floodlights of Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, the Nigerian men’s national team delivered a performance of unyielding authority, dismantling a formidable Benin side 4-0 in World Cup Qualification Africa action. The evening belonged, indisputably, to Victor Osimhen—a striker whose glimmer grows brighter with every outing—who hammered home a hat trick as the Super Eagles solidified their grip atop the qualifying group.

The hosts wasted no time in announcing their intent. In the third minute, Osimhen ghosted between two defenders, latching onto a searching cross and volleying crisply past Benin’s goalkeeper—a clinical finish that electrified a capacity crowd and instantly shifted the narrative of the night. It was the first of three for the Napoli striker, setting a tone that Benin, undefeated in their previous three, struggled to match.

Every so often, a match unfolds that rewrites what we expect from African qualifiers. Nigeria, sporting a blend of youthful exuberance and veteran poise, commanded midfield from the outset. Benin’s early attempts to disrupt the rhythm were absorbed and discarded. The Squirrels, fresh from back-to-back wins over Rwanda and Lesotho, arrived with confidence but saw that erased by Nigeria’s relentless press and composure.

The first half’s momentum tilted more steeply when Osimhen doubled his tally. In the 37th minute, he capitalized on Benin’s disorganized defense at the edge of the area, collecting a sharp through ball and dispatching it with trademark power. For Benin, the second goal stung—less because of its inevitability and more for how abruptly it undid weeks of careful progress. They had not conceded multiple goals in a qualifier since last September, yet Osimhen’s boots told a different story.

Trailing 2-0 at the break, Benin’s manager shuffled his formation, seeking to stem the bleeding and ignite a response. But the Super Eagles pressed harder. Six minutes into the second half, Osimhen sealed his hat trick with a header from a pinpoint cross—a masterclass in striker positioning and anticipation. Hat tricks in World Cup qualifiers are rare, and this one, completed before the final hour, elevated Osimhen into elite company among African forwards.

Not to be overshadowed by their attacking star, Nigeria’s defense proved equally ruthless. William Troost-Ekong marshaled the back line, snuffing out Benin’s sporadic counterattacks with steel and precision. By the 70th minute, the match drifted into inevitability—the Squirrels gamely chasing shadows, Nigeria alternating between containment and controlled bursts forward.

The final act arrived in stoppage time with Frank Onyeka adding flourish to the scoreline. Bursting through a tired Benin midfield, Onyeka fired low from just outside the box, the ball skidding into the corner and confirming a night of celebration. No red cards marred the contest, but a flurry of cautions late in the second half reflected Benin’s mounting frustration.

Context sharpens the sense of accomplishment. Nigeria arrived on the back of a narrow 2-1 away victory over Lesotho and a draw at South Africa—steady results, yet the demand for dominance remained. Recent history against Benin has favored the Super Eagles, with Nigeria claiming victories in their previous four encounters and extending a decade-long unbeaten run in the fixture. For Benin, the loss strands them behind in the group after three consecutive wins, their momentum interrupted at the worst possible moment.

As the table stands, Nigeria have distanced themselves from the chasing pack, their goal difference swelled and confidence hardened. Qualification for the World Cup looms closer, yet in a group stacked with quietly ambitious sides, every point and every statement win matters. Osimhen’s prolific night will echo through the qualification campaign, a reminder that the Super Eagles, when focused, remain Africa’s gold standard.

Benin face a moment of reckoning. After a run of three straight wins—punctuated by routs of Lesotho and Rwanda—the Squirrels’ defensive frailties were exposed under the harshest spotlight. Their route to the World Cup is now complicated by Nigeria’s surge, and the path forward demands resilience and reinvention.

For Nigeria, the message is clear: with Osimhen healthy and firing, and Onyeka embodying midfield industry, the Super Eagles have rediscovered their swagger at the continent’s highest level. For Benin, the challenge is to regroup and revive the promise that brought them to the brink of contention.

The stakes, now, are unmistakable—World Cup dreams burn brightest for teams unafraid to seize the moment. Tonight in Uyo, Nigeria seized it with both hands.