It was not pretty, but Nigeria’s Super Eagles did just enough to eke out the point that cemented their place at the 2025 African Cup of Nations, drawing 1-1 with Benin on Thursday.
Victor Osimhen rose between the Benin centrebacks to get his head on an exquisitely delivered cross from Moses Simon. It was a goal that showed, at this moment, that Osimhen is the only Super Eagles striker capable of scoring regularly.
The read on the play, the quick run to get in behind, and the elevation to rise above two centrebacks is one that his compatriots will have to learn to execute in the green white green.
That was one of few positives from the game. The rest was mostly forgettable.
The much vaunted Super Eagles, complete with their big name players, were on the verge of embarrassment yet again after Mohammed Tijani soared above the defence to direct a header. The Cheetahs ran rings around them under pouring rain as the visitors looked leggy and disinterested.
There were suggestions that news of qualifications could have dampened their enthusiasm somewhat, but captain William Troost-Ekong said that was not the case.
“Our idea was always to try and win this game,” he told ESPN. “We don’t want to put on a showing that is not worthy of Nigeria.
“Today we have to give credit to Benin. They had a good game plan. I felt we were a little bit unlucky the moment they scored because the person we were missing at the front post, Victor Osimhen, was off the pitch on the other side and that’s why they scored the first piece.
“But from then on we just wanted to continue to play well and win the game. But like the coach said, 1-1 was a fair result and we are very happy to qualify and to remain unbeaten in this campaign.”
Osimhen equals Odegbami mark
Osimhen is scoring for Nigeria at a 0.61 clip per game, that’s over a goal every other game on average as he races towards the summit of the all-time scorers’ list for Nigeria.
After passing the likes of Obafemi Martins, Ike Uche and even Yakubu, he went into this game with the legendary former captain and 1980 Nations Cup winner Segun Odegbami in front of him in second place.
But with Benin seizing control of the game from the off, things did not look good for the Galatasaray man. He did have early opportunities to strike, but was foiled by Marcel Dandjinou, and then he did himself no justice when he headed a gilt-edged opportunity wide, with a gaping goal in front of him.
However, he would not be Osimhen if he did not keep fighting, and when substitute Moses Simon danced around one defender and delivered an inch-perfect center, Osimhen was there to direct his header home.
Incidentally, there is symmetry to this goal. Osimhens first goal for Nigeria was also in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in June 2019. That game was also against Benin Republic. It also ended in a 1-1 draw. And the referee for the game? Same one. Senegal’s Issa Sy.
Odegbami was quick to acknowledge his young successor, telling ESPN: “Congratulations to him. At last! Welcome to a true goal poacher.”
Eguavoen’s unbeaten streak continues
“Coming into this game we hadn’t lost a game,” coach Augustine Eguavoen said at the post-match conference. “We wanted to maintain that and try to win the game. Worst case scenario, get a draw.”
For long swathes of the game, it looked for all the world like Benin’s Cheetahs did not read that script and were going to soil Eguavoen’s unbeaten copybook.
Tijani’s goal on the quarter hour had left the Super Eagles reeling, and they struggled to get so much as a toehold in the game. There were echoes of that 1-2 World Cup qualifying defeat earlier in the year, and in truth, if the Cheetahs had better finishing, they could have put the game to bed in the first half.
But a rash of half time changes by the former Nigeria captain, especially the introduction of Moses Simon for the ineffectual Kelechi Iheanacho, steadied the ship and even saw them begin to wrest some control from the home side.
Simon was particularly enterprising, looking more and more dangerous as the game went on. It was no surprise that it was his take on, and delivery that set Osimhen up for the levelling goal.
Having got the result, Eguavoen says he is now more determined than ever to finish the series with that zero in the L column: “We want to finish without losing a game and we knew we are capable of.
“We have the quality, we have whatever it takes to beat anybody, any day, anytime. Benin was a bit more under pressure, but we didn’t look at that.
“Nigeria is a team that is respected, almost won the AFCON last time, We have to always try to maintain that standard.”
Libya could still throw a spanner in the wheel
Just before kickoff, the Super Eagles found out that they had qualified before even taking to the pitch, after Libya pulled off a 1-0 win in Rwanda.
As it stands, the result is of little consequence to the Super Eagles, who have seemingly qualified with an unassailable 11 points going into the final game against Rwanda, while Benin on six points, Rwanda on five and Libya on four, battle for the final spot.
A win for Rwanda against the Super Eagles in Uyo, coupled with a draw between Libya and Benin, could send Amavubi to the Finals. However, a proposed appeal by Libya could have consequences for Nigeria, if they were to slip up in that final game.
Three of their 11 points were awarded as a walkover on Libya after the Libyans botched Nigeria’s travel arrangements, diverting their plane to a remote airport about 250km from the match venue.
CAF’s Disciplinary Committee found Libya liable, awarded the points to Nigeria and fined the Libyan federation.
The LFF have threatened to appeal the verdict. If they do, win their appeal and are awarded the points, that could mean the Super Eagles only have eight points, Libya would have seven and those final group games suddenly take on hugely added significance.
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