According to a report by The Vanguard on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, Nigeria kept their 2026 FIFA World Cup hopes alive after a commanding 4–0 victory over Benin Republic, though the result fell short of granting them direct qualification.
The Super Eagles finished their CAF Group C campaign in second place with 17 points, just behind South Africa, who claimed the top spot and the automatic World Cup ticket following their 3–0 win over Rwanda.
Under the updated CAF qualification rules, only the nine group winners secure automatic qualification, while the four best second-placed teams advance to a mini-playoff tournament to decide who will move on to the inter-confederation playoff.
Nigeria’s strong goal difference of +7 from ten matches ensured they were among the top four runners-up. The team now prepares for the critical CAF playoff in November 2025, where they are set to face three other group runners-up in a bid to reach the inter-confederation playoff.
The playoff will consist of two semi-final matches and a final, with the ultimate winner earning a chance to compete for one of the remaining World Cup spots.
Victor Osimhen played a decisive role, scoring a hat-trick in Nigeria’s final group game, boosting the team’s goal difference and securing their place among the playoff contenders.
Although the path to the World Cup is now longer and more challenging, Nigeria’s dominant performance against Benin has renewed optimism among fans that the Super Eagles can still claim a place in the 2026 tournament through resilience and focused effort.