By Bolaji Okunola
The Super Eagles cruised to a 3-0 victory over Benin in their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers opener at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium.
Interim coach Austin Eguavoen opted for a 3-4-3 formation and made several key changes from the team that played against the Cheetahs in June. Bruno Onyemaechi and William Troost-Ekong were reintroduced to the starting lineup, with Victor Boniface leading the attack.
Nigeria faced an early scare when Calvin Bassey collided with Steve Mounié, but the Fulham defender continued after a brief concern. The Eagles created their first chance in the 11th minute from an Ademola Lookman corner, though Boniface couldn’t convert. Lookman was close to scoring in the 14th minute, narrowly missing a chance set up by Samuel Chukwueze. Chukwueze then tested Benin’s goalkeeper Marcel Dandjinou with a free-kick in the 26th minute, which Dandjinou managed to tip over the bar.
Onyemaechi attempted to assist Boniface a minute after the half-hour mark, but Dandjinou’s quick reaction kept the game level. Benin’s first on-target shot came in the 40th minute, but Stanley Nwabali was up to the task with a solid save.
Lookman broke the deadlock just before halftime with a superb solo effort, dribbling past defenders and slotting the ball home. Early in the second half, Iwobi’s pass allowed Lookman to get past the Cheetahs’ goalkeeper, but a covering defender denied him a second goal. Boniface had a chance to score from Lookman’s pass but was off target.
Benin’s Mounié had a couple of close attempts to equalize, but Nwabali made crucial saves. Substitute Victor Osimhen doubled Nigeria’s lead in the 78th minute with an acrobatic finish from Ndidi’s deflected pass. Osimhen had another chance for a brace but couldn’t quite manage to round the goalkeeper.
Lookman secured his brace with a header from Moses Simon’s cross eight minutes before stoppage time. The win marks Benin’s 14th defeat against Nigeria. The Super Eagles will next face Rwanda on Tuesday afternoon in their second qualifying match.
