The Super Eagles had their star striker Victor Osimhen to thank as his hat-trick, added to by Frank Onyeka’s stoppage-time goal, gave them the three points they needed to finish as runners-up in a thrilling Group C, which went right down to the wire.
Benin began the day top of the group, needing to avoid a heavy defeat against Nigeria, but they were thrashed in Uyo.
In African qualifying, only the nine group winners qualify directly for next year’s World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, while the four best runners-up qualify for a play-off stage, and everyone else is eliminated.
How can Nigeria still qualify for the 2026 World Cup?
Nigeria were one of the best four runners-up in CAF qualifying, with Onyeka’s late goal seeing them edge out Burkina Faso on goal difference.
They now move onto the CAF play-off semi-finals, with the two winners of those one-legged ties – taking place on neutral ground in Morocco on November 13 – facing off in a final on November 16 to decide Africa’s sole representative in a further inter-confederation play-off stage in Mexico in March.
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Those semi-final fixtures are determined by FIFA’s world rankings as of the next update on October 23, with the highest-ranked team taking on the lowest, and the second-highest facing the third-highest.
As it stands, and with no changes expected, Nigeria will face Gabon next month, while Cameroon will meet the DR Congo.
The inter-confederation play-offs will be conducted in March next year, with six teams from five confederations playing for the final two spots at the World Cup.
The Standard
