Nigeria 3-0 Benin: Ballon d’Or nominee Lookman’s brace dismantles Cheetahs

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

Nigeria’s senior men’s national team kicked off their quest to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with an emphatic 3-0 victory over Benin Republic at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on Saturday.

Interim coach Augustine Eguavoen, alongside his home-based assistants Fidelis Ilechukwu and Daniel Ogunmodede, made several strategic changes to the squad that had previously lost 2-1 to Benin in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

Captain William Troost-Ekong returned to the lineup, joined by Stanley Nwabali, Calvin Bassey, Semi Ajayi, Ola Aina, Bruno Onyeamachi, Wilfred Ndidi, Alex Iwobi, Ademola Lookman, Samuel Chukwueze, and Victor Boniface.

Ademola Lookman stole the show with a brilliant brace, while Victor Osimhen, coming off the bench, added a third goal to seal the win for the Super Eagles. Lookman scored his first goal just before halftime, weaving through four Benin defenders to finish expertly inside the box. Osimhen, who replaced Boniface in the 72nd minute, doubled Nigeria’s lead with a well-timed finish assisted by Ndidi. Lookman then headed in his second goal of the match, further cementing Nigeria’s dominance.

This victory ended a three-match winless streak for the Super Eagles and marked their biggest win since a 6-0 triumph over São Tomé and Príncipe in September 2023.

Nigeria will look to build on this momentum as they head to Kigali for their next group game against Rwanda on September 10, 2024.