Nigeria’s Super Eagles on Saturday shook off their faltering performance in the 2026 World Cup qualifying matches so far, to deliver a commanding display against the Cheetahs (formerly The Squirrel) of Benin Republic in their opening 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
The match, played at the Goodwill Akpabio international Stadium in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, saw the seemingly re-born Eagles humbling their Benin counterparts 3-0
On the day, Atalanta of Italy forward, Ademola Lookman scored a brace while reigning African Footballer of Year, Victor Osimhen, who now plies his trade on loan with Galatasaray in Turkey also put his name on the score sheet for Nigeria to secure the maximum three points.
Seizing control of proceedings from the kickoff, the Coach Austin Equaveon-led squad were all over the Béninoise with a flurry of attacking chances that went begging for conversion.
Interestingly, the West African neighbours struggled to find their rhythm and we’re only able to manage their first shot on goal in the 40th minute, which did not in any way trouble Stanley Nwabali in goal for the Nigerian national team.
The expected breakthrough came for the Eagles few minutes before the halftime whistle as Lookman slipped past the visitors’ defence line to give Nigerian fans something to cheer going into the break.
The second half had the visitors coming on strong in search of an equaliser with so much improved performance to keep the host at bay albeit temporarily.
However, disaster struck for the Cheetahs, currently tutored by former Eagles’ manager, Gernot Rohr in the 78th minute when Osimhen extended Nigeria’s lead to 2-0 with Lookman making the scores 3-0 shortly afterwards.
The Eagles, who are battling for a spot in the continent’s biggest football showpiece, are featuring in Group D, alongside Benin, Libya and Rwanda.
And next on the football calendar for the Nigerians is turning immediate attention to their second group stage match in the AFCON qualifiers holding in about three days time.
The Coach Equaveon-led side has a date to keep with the Amavubi (The Wasps) of Rwanda inside the Amahoro National Stadium in Kigali where they are expected to do battle on Tuesday, September 10, 2024.
