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2 A late Victor Osimhen’s goal earned Nigeria’s Super Eagles a 1-1 draw against Benin Republic, in Group D of the AFCON 2025 qualifiers in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire on Thursday.
The Galatasaray striker canceled out Mohamed Tijani’s first half opener for Gernot Rohr’s men which means the Eagles, now on 11 points, will finish as Group winners.
The Cheetahs needed an outright win to seal qualification after Libya had pipped Rwanda 1-0 in Kigali in their earlier kickoff.
Libya’s win saw the Super Eagles qualify even before the game against Benin Republic.
It is now all to play for in the final day of the qualifiers for Benin Republic, Rwanda and Libya as all three teams still stand a chance of qualifying.
For the Eagles their matchday 6 game with Rwanda billed for Monday, November 18 will only serve as a formality for them.
In the 7th minute Junior Olaitan sent in a dangerous low cross which evaded everybody inside the box and rolled out for goal kick.
On 15 minutes Victor Osimhen ran on to a pass but Benin goalkeeper got to the ball before him.
Benin took the lead on 16 minutes after Mohamed Tijani headed in a cross from a short corner.
Stanley Nwabali was called to action on 20 minutes as he parried away a goal bound shot.
In the 24th minute Bruno Onyemaechi sent in a dangerous cross which the keeper dropped but quickly gathered.
Tosin Aiyegun went close to doubling Benin lead on 27 minutes as he attempted a bicycle kick which went just off the target.
With four minutes left to play in the first half Osimhen had the Eagles’ best chance as he headed Onyemaechi’s delightful cross unfortunately the effort went just off the target.
Coach Austin Eguavoen made two changes with Raphael Onyedika and Moses Simon replacing Kelechi Iheanacho and Gabriel Osho before the start of the second half.
In the 56th minute a poor back pass by a Benin player saw Lookman almost capitalize but the keeper rushed out off his line to clear the danger.
Onyemaechi went close for the Eagles on 61 minutes with a low left foot strike on the edge of the box but his effort went narrowly wide.
Two minutes later Osimhen connected with Ola Aina’s cross but the effort was too weak to trouble the keeper who gathered.
Osimhen had a chance on 74 minutes as he headed a cross from Simon but saw his chance go off target.
Osimhen then made it 1-1 on 81 minutes as he leapt to head home Simon’s cross.
In stoppage time Benin Republic won a corner but the effort was wasted.
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