Ademola Lookman scored twice with substitute Victor Osimhen adding a third as Nigeria beat Benin 3-0 in Uyo on Saturday to get their qualifying campaign to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations off to a winning start.
Former champions Nigeria topped Group D after Rwanda and Libya played out a 1-1 draw in Tripoli in the other group game.
On Tuesday, the Super Eagles will be guests of Rwanda in Kigali in continuation of the qualifying tournament.
It was a sweet revenge for the three-time African champions after they lost 2-1 to Benin in a 2026 World Cup qualifier in June.
Man of the Match Lookman, the lone African nominee for the 2024 Ballon d’Or men’s award, made up for wasting two big chances to put the Super Eagles in front in first half stoppage time.
Boosted by finally breaking through after having dominated the first half, the home team pushed forward for more goals soon after the interval.
In the 52nd minute, Lookman got to the end of a long ball, beat the goalkeeper but only to be stopped by a defender.
Ten minutes later, Victor Boniface let fly a powerful volley from the edge of the box, but it missed the mark by a tight margin.
However, three minutes later, goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali was called to keep out a goal-bound shot fired by captain Steve Mounie as Benin continued to chase the game.
Osimhen, the reigning African Footballer of the Year, came off the bench to double Nigeria’s advantage in the 78th minute, when he superbly met a deflected pass inside the box.
In the 80th minute, Galatasaray-bound Osimhen was set up for a second following a delightful long ball, but somehow could not beat the Benin goalkeeper.
Atalanta forward Lookman got his brace in the 83rd minute, when he headed home a clever chip by Moses Simon to kill off the fight in the Cheetahs of Benin.
