Nigeria’s Super Eagles kicked off their Africa Cup of Nations 2025 qualifying campaign with a resounding 3-0 victory against Benin Republic on Saturday at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.
Ademola Lookman, a 2024 Ballon d’Or nominee, opened the scoring in the first half, giving Nigeria an early lead.
Victor Osimhen, the reigning African Footballer of the Year, extended the advantage with a brilliant goal early in the second half. Lookman added a third goal in the 76th minute, finishing off a well-crafted play by Moses Simon to seal the win for Nigeria.
The victory provided a measure of redemption for Nigeria, who had previously lost 2-1 to Benin Republic in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Interim coach Augustine Eguavoen guided the team to this impressive win after stepping in for German coach Bruno Labbadia, who withdrew due to a disagreement with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) over tax-related issues.