By Aderonke Ojo
Nigeria Super Eagles qualified for the playoffs for the 2026 World Cup after securing a comprehensive 4-0 win against Benin Republic on Tuesday at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.
This victory propelled them into the playoff stage, contingent on the Confederation of African Football (CAF) rankings of second-placed teams across groups .
The Cheetahs, who prior to the game where on top of Group C with 17 points could not contain with the pace of the Nigerian attack as they conceded in the first three minutes when Victor Osimhen scored the curtain raiser through an assist by Simon Chukwueze.
After the goal, the Beninese tried to come back into the game but the Super Eagles defence was too strong for them to penetrate and it was Osimhen,38th minute who again rose to the occasion to score a brace before the end of the first half.
On the resumption of the second half, Osimhen became the hero of the match scoring a hat trick in the encounter before he was substituted later in the second half.
Onyeka Frank scored the fourth goal in the dying minutes of the second half to put the game beyond the Beninese and ensure Nigeria book one of the playoffs ticket
With this victory, Nigeria came second behind South Africa with 17 points, same with Benin Republic but with a superior goal aggregate and qualifies for the playoffs.
Meanwhile, South Africa topped the Group with 18 points beating Rwanda 3-0 to gain automatic qualification for the World Cup to be hosted by United States, Canada and Mexico.
CAF clarified that the top four second-placed teams qualify for playoffs, excluding points earned against the lowest-ranked team in each group (except Group E with Eritrea’s withdrawal).
Cameroon,Gabon ,Nigeria,Burkina Faso or DR Congo. These four nations will play continental playoff and only one of them will qualify for the Intercontinental Playoff.
The team that wins this playoff will then move on to the international final playoff in Mexico in March 2026. In Mexico, they will compete against top teams from other regions, including North America, South America, Asia, and Oceania, for the last two available spots in the 2026 World Cup.