Osimhen Scores Hat-Trick As Nigeria Destroy Benin Republic, South Africa Pick World Cup Ticket
- Victor Osimhen netted a hat-trick as Nigeria thrashed the Benin Republic at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo
- The Galatasaray striker was incredible, opening the scoring as early as the third minute, before scoring two more goals with his head
- South Africa, however, picked the World Cup ticket as Bafana Bafana registered an emphatic 3-0 win over Rwanda
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The Super Eagles produced an incredible performance on the final matchday of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers as they thrashed Benin Republic 4-0.
With barely his second touch of the game, Victor Osimhen opened the scoring as Nigeria took the lead as early as the 3rd minute.
The Galatasaray striker headed home a second in the 37th minute, having met with Samuel Chukwueze's cross.
Source: Getty Images
Desperate to extend their lead, the Super Eagles continued to attack, and it was Osimhen again who headed home the third in the 51st minute.
Frank Onyeka added the icing on the cake in the 90th minute as Nigeria ended the encounter with an emphatic 4-0 victory.
The rampaging Osimhen increased his goals tally in the national team colours as he inches closer to the record set by Rashidi Yekini.
With the hat-trick at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, the forward takes his tally to 29 goals in 37 matches.
South Africa qualify for World Cup
Meanwhile, in the other game of the group, South Africa thrashed Rwanda 3-0 to pick the automatic ticket from the group, per iDiski Times.
Thalente Mbatha opened the scoring for Bafana Bafana as early as the 5th minute, and then Oswin Apollis extended the lead in the 25th minute. Evidence Makgopa sealed the victory for the team as South Africa finished on 18 points to win the group.
Nigeria are second with 17 and will confirm their place in the playoffs, while Benin finished third with 17 points with less goals.
After the game, Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos said via Citisports:
“It feels wonderful. We all knew we could do it. We believed in ourselves and I think it showed from the beginning of the game that we wanted to win this game. Nigeria did what they had to do and we did what we had to do so we’re going to the World Cup, it’s fantastic."
Here are all qualified teams for the World Cup so far
- Co-hosts: Canada, Mexico, USA
- AFC: Australia, IR Iran, Japan, Jordan, Korea Republic, Uzbekistan
- CAF: Algeria, Cape Verde, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Tunisia, South Africa
- CONMEBOL: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay
- OFC: New Zealand
Source: Getty Images
Ghana pick World Cup ticket
Legit.ng earlier reported that FIFA president Gianni Infantino sent a message to Ghana after the country's national team picked an automatic ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Black Stars confirmed their place following a 1-0 win over Comoros on Saturday to finish top of Group I with 25 points after ten matches.
It's back-to-back World Cup qualification for the country, having edged out Nigeria to pick up the ticket to the 2022 edition in Qatar.
Source: Legit.ng
