A late header from Victor Osimhen salvaged a point for Nigeria’s Super Eagles in a 1-1 draw with Benin Republic, sparing them from a surprising defeat.
Although Nigeria had already secured their place in next year’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, Osimhen’s equalizer in the 81st minute solidified their hold on the top spot in the qualifiers, keeping them ahead of both Benin Republic and Rwanda in Group D.
The Super Eagles had effectively clinched one of Group D’s two qualification spots due to Libyas 1-0 victory over Rwanda earlier.
Nonetheless, Nigeria came into the match with a full-strength lineup, determined to finish on top.
Coach Austin Eguaveon opted for an aggressive start in Abidjan, where the Super Eagles immediately took control.
They generated several scoring opportunities but were left frustrated after Osimhen squandered a prime chance in the first half.
Benin Republic took advantage of Nigeria’s missed opportunities when Mohamed Tijani scored, assisted by Victor Olaitan, giving the home side a 1-0 lead against the flow of play.
Osimhen, however, redeemed himself in the second half with a well-placed header from a Moses Simon cross, leveling the score in the 81st minute.
This goal brought the Super Eagles’ points tally to 11, securing their lead in the qualifying group with a game left to play, while Benin trailed behind with seven points.
Despite the earlier assurance of qualification, Eguaveon fielded a competitive lineup, including the debut of defender Gabriel Osho.
However, with Semi Ajayi sidelined due to injury, the Auxerre defender found himself struggling to fill Ajayi’s role.
Osho’s shaky performance included a poorly executed clearance that led to the corner from which Benin scored. It was unsurprising that Eguaveon decided to substitute him at halftime to stabilize the defense.
Nigeria’s defensive vulnerabilities, especially during set pieces, were exposed again, marking the first time they had conceded in the 2025 AFCON qualifiers.
This goal echoed an earlier lapse in the World Cup qualifiers against Benin Republic, also from a corner kick, signaling an area that could be exploited by opponents in Morocco.
Osimhen’s missed header in the opening half left fans bewildered, but he soon redeemed himself.
His equalizing goal wasn’t just crucial for the game’s outcome; it also etched his name further into Super Eagles history.
This strike brought Osimhen level with Segun Odegbami’s record of 23 goals, making him joint-second on Nigeria’s all-time top scorers list.
As Nigeria heads to Morocco, tightening their set-piece defense will be a priority if they hope to advance deep in the tournament.
This draw revealed areas to refine, but with talents like Osimhen at the helm, the Super Eagles remain a formidable force in African football.
