The Nigerian national football team, known as the Super Eagles, achieved a long-awaited victory after their second-place finish at the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year. They defeated the Benin national team, known as the Cheetahs, with a convincing 3-0 scoreline in Uyo on Saturday.
Since their loss to Ivory Coast in the AFCON final, the Super Eagles have struggled to find their winning form, managing only three draws and a loss to Benin Republic in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Despite missing star player Victor Osimhen, who won the African Footballer of the Year Award, the Super Eagles started the game with great intensity. Interim coach Austin Eguavoen provided instructions from the touchline, but the team initially struggled to convert their chances.
As the first half approached its end with no goals on the scoreboard, Balon d’Or nominee Adeola Lookman made a brilliant solo run through the Benin defense to give the Super Eagles the lead.
This goal sparked wild celebrations from the fans at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, as the team went into halftime with a 1-0 advantage.
The second half started similarly to the first, with the Benin team, led by former Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr, holding firm and frustrating Nigeria’s attacking efforts. In the 63rd minute, Eguavoen made three substitutions, bringing on Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Olisa Ndah, and Moses Simon to inject fresh energy into the team, replacing Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey, and Samuel Chukwueze.
With the score still 1-0 at the 72-minute mark, Eguavoen introduced Victor Osimhen, who is currently on loan at Galatasaray, as a substitute for Victor Boniface. The crowd erupted with cheers as Osimhen made an immediate impact, scoring the team’s second goal just six minutes later. Nigeria continued to press for more goals and sealed the victory three minutes later when Lookman completed his brace.
With this emphatic 3-0 win, the Super Eagles have regained their winning form. They will now shift their focus to their next match against Rwanda’s national team, the Amavubi, in the AFCON qualifiers. Another victory in that game would bolster Nigeria’s chances of qualifying for the 2025 AFCON tournament in Morocco.
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