Daniel Oyekan
The Super Eagles of Nigeria opened their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign with a commanding 3-0 victory over the Republic of Benin.
The match, held at the Godswill Akpabio star in Uyo, saw a revitalized Nigerian squad under technical director Austin Egueavon take control of the game against a Benin side managed by former Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr.
Nigeria’s starting eleven featured a strong lineup, with captain William Troost-Ekong returning to marshal the defense.
Bruno Onyemaechi filled the left-back position, while Victor Boniface led the attack. Notably, Ballon d’Or nominee Ademola Lookman started on the left wing, adding extra flair to the offense.
Surprisingly, star striker Victor Osimhen started the game on the bench, following an intense transfer saga that saw him secure a loan move to Turkish giants Galatasaray. In his absence, Boniface spearheaded Nigeria’s attack.
The match’s first breakthrough came just before halftime as Ademola Lookman found the back of the net in the 45th minute with a composed finish, slotting the ball into the bottom corner to give Nigeria a 1-0 lead.
Victor Osimhen was introduced in the 66th, It didn’t take long for him to make an impact. Just six minutes later, Osimhen doubled Nigeria’s advantage with a clinical strike, assisted by midfielder Wilfred Ndidi.
Nigeria continued to press forward, and in the 83rd minute, Lookman sealed the victory with his second goal of the night. Moses Simon delivered a pinpoint assist, allowing Lookman to calmly finish the game off at 3-0.
The match also saw a national team debut for Orlando Pirates defender Olisa Ndah, who replaced Calvin Bassey in the 63rd minute. Ndah slotted into the defense seamlessly, ensuring Nigeria maintained their clean sheet.
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