Nigeria’s Super Eagles topped Group D of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers by beating the The Cheetahs of next-door Benin Republic 3-0 in the clash at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, Saturday evening. Libya and Rwanda, the other sides in the group, had ended their Matchday 1 encounter 1-1 on Wednesday in Tripoli, the Libya capital.
In the second minute of added time of the first half in the Uyo game, Atalanta striker Ademola Lookman broke the deadlock to enable Nigeria’s Super Eagles go a goal up at the break. It was 24-year-old’s fifth goal in 13 appearances for his country this year.
Benin Republic’s Cheetahs had been stubborn, soaking the offensive by the home side, who were backed by the full house in Uyo.
Nigeria kept reigning African footballer, Victor Osimhen on the bench and fielded his namesake, Victor Bassey instead as the frontman. But moments after Osimhen was introduced, he converted from a pass by fellow substitute, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru in the 78th minute.
Lookman added the gloss five minutes later with his second goal of the evening.
It was a sweet revenge for Nigeria who were beaten 1-2 by their Beninois counterparts 1-2 in th3 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers last June in Abidjan. Coached by Nigeria’s former manager, Gernot Rohr, Benin put Nigeria’s chances of featuring at the mundial in jeopardy. With only a team automatically qualifying from the group, the Super Eagles are placed fifth among six teams.
Nigeria travel to Kigali to face Rwanda in Matchday 2 on Tuesday, while Benin Republic host Libya in their adopted home in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
Two teams from each of the 12 groups will qualify for the finals, to be hosted by Morocco from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026.
