Nigeria’s Super Eagles have officially booked their spot in next year’s Africa Cup of Nations, set to take place in Morocco. Their qualification was confirmed even before they stepped onto the pitch against Benin Republic, thanks to a crucial result in Kigali: Libya’s narrow 1-0 victory over Rwanda. This result paved the way for the Eagles to secure their AFCON ticket, though their own match was far from a formality.
In an intense Group D showdown on Thursday in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, a late equalizer from Victor Osimhen secured a 1-1 draw for the Super Eagles against the Benin Republic’s Cheetahs. The Galatasaray striker’s strike came in the dying moments, canceling out Mohamed Tijani’s first-half goal for the Benin side, which had threatened to steal a vital victory. With this result, Nigeria now sits comfortably at the top of the group standings with 11 points, ensuring they will finish as Group D winners.
The pressure was on Benin Republic heading into the match. The Cheetahs needed a win to secure their own place in the tournament, especially after Libya’s earlier triumph over Rwanda. However, Osimhen’s late heroics dashed their hopes, leaving the race for AFCON qualification wide open among Benin, Rwanda, and Libya. All three teams still have a fighting chance, setting up a nail-biting finale to the Group D qualifiers.
For the Super Eagles, however, the journey is already complete. Their upcoming match against Rwanda on Monday, November 18, will be a mere formality, allowing them to focus on fine-tuning their game ahead of AFCON 2025 in Morocco.
