AFCON 2025 Qualifier: Nigeria Beats Beinin Republic 3-0

Ufuoma Omojirhe

Ademola Lookman scored a brace as Victor Osimhen came off the bench as the Super Eagles of Nigeria beat Benin Republic 3-0 at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium Saturday evening.

The encounter is the beginning of the qualification stages for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

Lookman and Victor Boniface were selected to spearhead the attack as Osimhen, who endured a failed transfer on deadline day, which culminated in the 25-year-old joining Gatalasary on loan, was bwnched.

Look a striker also resumed late to the Eagles camp and would have to make do with a place on the bench as Nigeria seeks to avenge the defeat to Benin Republic in the World Cup qualifiers in June.

The encounter was the beginning of the qualification stages for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

Ademola Lookman and Victor Boniface were selected to spearhead the attack in the absence of Osimhen, who endured a failed transfer on deadline day, which culminated in the 25-year-old joining Gatalasary on loan.

The striker also resumed late to the Eagles camp and had to make do with a place on the bench but came in to prove why he remains one of the top strikers in the world by helping Nigeria to avenge the defeat to Benin Republic in the World Cup qualifiers in June.

Benin was indeed a tough opponent and the first half appeared to be heading for a draw until Lookman fired into the opponents net a beautiful goal.

Lookman, who was recently nominated for the FIFA Balon d’Or award and was one of the Super Eagles’ best performers at AFCON 2023 earlier in the year, where his goals led Nigeria to a runners-up place, made it two goals in the second half.

Osimhen then came on from the bench and made it 3 -0 to give a good record to interim coach Augustine Eguavoen who deployed a 4-3-3 formation 

Stanley Nwabali retained his starting place in goal ahead of revitalised Maduka Okoye.

Eguavon deployed Bruno Onyemaechi in midfield as the quartet of captain Williams Troost-Ekong, Calvin Bassey, Semi Ajayi, and Ola Aina relived their AFCON roles.

Nigeria is drawn in Group D alongside Benin, Rwanda and Libya.