AFCON qualifiers: Osimhen rescues point for Eagles against Benin Republic

Victor Osimhen scored a second-half goal to secure a 1-1 draw for Nigeria against the Benin Republic in their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualification match.  

The Super Eagles had to dig deep to rescue a point against the Beninese at the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny, Cote d’Ivoire, on Thursday.

Nigeria qualified for the 2025 AFCON before the ball was kicked against the Benin Republic. The team’s participation at the next AFCON was confirmed after Libya defeated Rwanda 1-0 minutes before the game.

However, the Beninese, led by Gernot Rohr, former Super Eagles head coach, needed a win to ensure a place in Morocco, and they made clear to Nigeria that they wanted the game more from the first whistle blast.

Victor Osimhen started his first game for the Super Eagles since the AFCON final in Cote d’Ivoire early this year. His inclusion in the squad added more threat to the Nigerian attack in the first few minutes. He almost assisted a goal for Alex Iwobi, but the Fulham midfielder could not sort his legs out after Osimhen headed the ball down for him inside the Benin Republic goal area.

Shortly after, Kelechi Iheanacho sent Osimhen through on goal, but the Beninese goalkeeper, Danjinou, beat the Galatasaray striker to the ball. The keeper’s flailing boots also caught Osimhen, who was in pain for a few minutes.

Benin Republic leveraged the numerical advantage and grabbed the game’s first goal. A short corner led to a cross floating into the Nigerian goal area. Mohamed Tijani was unmarked, and his header sent the ball between Stanley Nwabali’s leg and into the Nigerian goal.

Osimhen had an opportunity to reply immediately, but his glancing header sailed millimetres wide.

After halftime, Eguavoen brought on Raphael Onyedika and Moses Simon as the Eagles continued to find solutions to the troublesome Beninese defence.

The answer came only after 81 minutes, with Osimhen buying himself a little space inside the box before powering a header off a brilliant cross from Moses.

The strike was Osimhen’s 23rd goal for the Super Eagles. He equals Segun Odegbami’s tally as the second on the team’s all-time goalscorers chart.

With 11 points, the Super Eagles are assured of a top-spot finish in Group D of the qualifier. They face Rwanda in their final game of the qualification campaign in Uyo on Monday.