Super Eagles punches Benin Republic 3-0
…Ballon d’Or nominee Lookman’s brace dismantles Cheetahs
Nigeria’s senior men’s national team, Super Eagles kicked off their quest to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with an emphatic 3-0 victory over Cheetahs of Benin Republic at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on Saturday.
Interim coach , Augustine Eguavoen, alongside his home-based assistants Fidelis Ilechukwu and Daniel Ogunmodede, made several strategic changes to the squad that had previously lost 2-1 to Benin in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
Ademola Lookman stole the show with a brilliant brace, while Victor Osimhen, coming off the bench, Less than six minutes after coming on, added a third goal to seal the win for the Super Eagles.
Lookman scored his first goal just before halftime, weaving through four Benin defenders to finish expertly inside the box.
Osimhen, who substitute Victor Boniface in the 72nd minute, doubled Nigeria’s lead with a well-timed finish assisted by Ndidi.
Lookman then headed in his second goal of the match, further cementing Nigeria’s dominance.
This victory ended a three-match winless streak for the Super Eagles and marked their biggest win since a 6-0 triumph over São Tomé and Príncipe in September 2023.
Nigeria will face Amavubi at the Amahoro Stadium Kigali on Tuesday, 10th September.
Zimbabwe is placed in the same group alongside Nigeria’s Super Eagles, Cheetah of Benin, Bafana Bafana of South Africa, and Amavubi of Rwanda in the 2026 World Cup qualifying group.