The Super Eagles left it a little too late before pushing to be at the 2026 World Cup, but sadly their destiny was no longer in their hands as South Africa picked the sole group C automatic ticket.
Though the Super Eagles humiliated Benin Republic 4-0, as expected, as they needed the win, but they needed Rwanda to stop South Africa.
Unfortunately, they achieved the result they needed but Rwanda failed to do Nigeria a favour as South Africa took their destiny in their hands by defeating Rwanda 3-0.
The implication of the result is that the Eagles missed out on automatic qualification, but still have to wait to see if they can still qualify through the tortuous path of the play offs.
Once again,Victor Osimhen proved why the Super Eagles struggle to score whenever he is not in the game, as he banged in a hat-trick while Frank Onyeka completed the rout.
The Eagles win and goals became academic as South Africa also humbled Rwanda 3-0 to top the group with 18 points and picked the sole group ticket.
If Nigeria makes it to the play offs reserved for the best four losers from the nine groups, they will still need to win the play offs proceed to the inter-continental play offs to qualify for the World Cup.
Osimhen opened scoring in the 3rd minute with an assist from Samuel Chukwueze who had freed Osimhen with a long pass from the midfield,
In the 37th minute, Osimhen doubled the lead with his trade mark header with assist also from Chukwueze.The third goal from Osimhen was a low header from a free kick in the 51st minute,
Benin poured out looking for a way out of their problems, but the Super Eagles defence was rock solid with Semi Ajayi and Calvin Bassey at the centre, while Zeidu Sanusi and Benjamin Fredricks at the flanks.
Onyeka knocked home the final goal of the match in added time 91st minute of the in-injury time courtesy of a Moses Simon pull out .
The top four-ranked sides will go for the play-off semi-finals, with the two winners facing off in a final to decide Africa’s sole representative at the inter-confederation play-off stage.
The rankings for those semi-finals will be made off FIFA ranking, with the highest taking on the lowest, and the second highest facing the second lowest.
The inter-confederation play-offs will be conducted in March next year, with six teams from five confederations playing for the final two spots at the World Cup.
