A brace from Ademola Lookman and another goal from new Galatasaray signing, Victor Osimhen gave Nigeria's Super Eagles a well-deserved 3-0 victory over their counterparts from Benin Republic in a 2025 Nations Cup Qualifier on Saturday.
The Eagles had lit up the capacity filled Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo within minutes of kick-off with flashes of brilliance as the team won its first corner kick in the second minute of the game.
10 minutes later, Victor Boniface connected a corner kick from Samuel Chukwueze but the shot went wide. The pressure continued but the Béninois defence remained resolute.
Another Boniface attempt was deflected for an easy catch by goalkeeper Marcel Dandjinou.
Another chance came in the 26th minute when Samuel Chukwueze was brought down at the edge of the penalty box. His free kick was parried over the top while the résultant corner kick was headed over by Boniface.
Nigerian fans had a moment of anxiety as Calvin Bassey handled the ball near the penalty area in the 39th minute. Goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali however rose to the occasion.
The two-minute added time availed much for the Nigerian side as Demola Lookman capitaliséd on a miss by a Benin Republic defender. The Atalanta striker beat three defenders before firing past Dandjinou.
The Béninois players resumed with confidence in the second half making incursions into the Nigerian area. Things however changed a bit with the introduction of Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Moses Simon and Ralph Onyedika. The visitors appeared undeterred as they kept asking questions from the Nigerian defence much so that Nwabali had to make two great saves in the 60th minute.
Five minutes after coming on for Boniface, Victor Osimhen put Nigeria further ahead, scoring a sensational volley off an assist from Wilfred Ndidi. The game went beyond the reach of the Béninois players in the 82nd minute when Moses Simon's cross found Lookman. The goalkeeper had no answer to the header that resulted.
The Eagles presently sit atop Group D with three points followed by Libya and Rwanda with a point each. Benin, yet to pick a point occupies the fourth position.
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