Victor Osimhen’s Hat-trick Fires Super Eagles into World Cup Playoffs

The Super Eagles of Nigeria have successfully secured a spot in the African playoffs for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, thanks to an emphatic 4-0 victory over the Benin Republic on Tuesday evening at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.

Dependable NG reports that Victor Osimhen was the undisputed hero of the night, netting a sublime hat-trick that drove the team to a crucial win in their final Group C fixture. Frank Onyeka added a vital fourth goal in the closing minutes, a strike that significantly boosted Nigeria’s goal difference, ensuring they finished as one of the best runners-up on the continent.

Although the win was not enough for automatic qualification, which went to group winners South Africa (who also won 3-0 against Rwanda), the Super Eagles’ performance guaranteed their progression to the next stage of the African qualifiers.

The impressive win, powered by Osimhen’s exceptional display, earned Nigeria second place in Group C and secured them a ticket to the four-team CAF mini-tournament scheduled for November 2025. This African playoff will feature the four best second-placed teams from the continent, competing for the sole spot reserved for Africa in the subsequent inter-confederation play-off tournament.

So far, Nigeria, Gabon, and Cameroon are confirmed for the CAF playoffs, with one spot still to be decided. The winner of this November tournament will then advance to the six-nation FIFA inter-confederation play-off tournament in March 2026, where they will compete for one of the final two berths at the 48-team World Cup to be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

The FIFA play-offs will involve one team each from the AFC, CAF, CONMEBOL, and OFC, alongside two teams from CONCACAF. The two highest-ranked nations will receive a bye to the finals, while the four lowest-ranked teams will play in semi-finals, with the two winners progressing to face the seeded teams for the final two World Cup slots.