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

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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.

author avatar
Oluwaseun Oyediji
Oluwaseun Babatunde Oyediji is a multi-media sports journalist with over 10 years experience in Information Communication Technology (ICT), women's football, and beach soccer reportage.The prolific writer is the Media Assistant to Nigeria Beach Soccer League and Africa Beach Soccer Union as well as contributor on Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) website.He has covered multiple national and international football tournaments including Championship of African Nations (CHAN 2020), CAF Women's Champions League (2023), and Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2023).Since 2021, Oyediji has covered the NWFL Premiership especially the season ending Super Six Playoffs.A member of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Ogun state chapter is also the image maker of the Remo Sports Development Council under the leadership of Chief Falilat Ogunkoya and David Osuolale.
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