Victor Osimhen scored with a late header as the Super Eagles played a 1-1 draw with Benin in the penultimate round of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers at Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny on Thursday night, Afrosport reports.
Nigeria had already booked their place in the next year’s finals in Morocco by virtue of Rwanda losing to Libya in the earlier Group D game.
Very little was created in the opening minutes in Abidjan but the game came alive in the 16th minute when Mohamed Tijani sent in a header from close range off poor awareness from the Nigerian backline.
The Cheetahs were close to making it 2-0 moments later but goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali was alert to thwart the danger.
African Player of the Year nominee Ademola Lookman thought he had put the ball in the net for the Super Eagles in the 24th minute but it was ruled out for offside.
Reigning African Player of the Year Victor Osimhen also had a chance of his own in the 41st minute but his header went wide.
Benin pilled more pressure in the second half which required Nwabali and the Nigerian defence to be on their toes.
Nigeria’s moment finally came in the 81st minute through an Osimhen header from a Moses Simon cross.
FT in Abidjan. Benin 1–1 Nigeria| See you in Morocco and thank you all for your support #SoarSuperEagles pic.twitter.com/kdm75RfX7X
— 🇳🇬 Super Eagles (@NGSuperEagles) November 14, 2024
The result sees the Super Eagles remain top of Group D with 11 points and will finish off the qualifiers against Rwanda in Uyo on Monday.
Benin are second with seven points, two points ahead of the Rwandans and will round things off against bottom Libya in Tripoli on the same day.
