…as Libya’s win secures spot for Super Eagles

The Super Eagles of Nigeria drew 1-1 with the Cheetahs of Benin Republic on Thursday, at the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, thanks to Victor Osimhen’s late goal.

Meanwhile before the match, Nigeria’s 2025 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualification had already been secured by Libya’s shocking 1-0 victory over Rwanda in Kigali on Thursday.

Benin Republic started strongly, banking on their aerial advantage early in the match. A well-placed cross from Junior Olaitan found Mohamed Tijani, who headed in at the near post to earn a 1-0 score line lead in the 17th minute. The Super Eagles had a clear opportunity to equalize just before halftime when Bruno Onyemaechi delivered a perfect cross to an unmarked Osimhen, who surprisingly headed wide, leaving Nigeria trailing 1-0 at the end of first half.

The second half saw both sides playing aggressively, as neither team was willing to settle for a defensive approach. In the 62nd minute, Olaitan missed a chance to double Benin’s lead, failing to beat Nigeria’s goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali from close range. Ten minutes later, Onyemaechi’s shot struck the near post, narrowly missing the target.

The decisive moment came in the 81st minute when Galatasaray striker, Victor Osimhen making up for his earlier miss, connected with a precise cross from substitute Moses Simon. Osimhen’s header secured a valuable point for Nigeria and confirmed their status as Group D winners.

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The result solidified Nigeria’s position among the top two teams in Group D, ensuring their passage to Morocco next year without needing points against Benin Republic or Rwanda.

This is the second time the Super Eagles benefited significantly from a contentious situation involving Libya after they had been previously awarded three points from a suspended match due to a hostage crisis at a Libyan airport.

With four points, Libya is still at the bottom of the standings and will play their final Group D match against Benin Republic on Monday while Nigeria remains atop Group D with 11 points from five matches, enjoying a four-point lead over second-placed Benin Republic despite the draw.

The Super Eagles have now qualified for their 21st appearance at the tournament. However, they are now focused on their final qualifier—a home game against Rwanda on Monday at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo. They aim to wrap up a successful qualifying campaign after a goalless draw in their previous encounter in Kigali.

The AFCON 2025 is set to take place in Morocco from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.