Abuja: South Africa will return to the Fifa World Cup for the first time since hosting the tournament in 2010 after narrowly claiming top spot in their qualifying group ahead of Nigeria and Benin.
According to BBC, Benin, who were chasing their first-ever World Cup appearance, entered the last round of matches leading Group C, two points ahead of South Africa and three ahead of Nigeria. However, their hopes were dashed after a 4-0 defeat in Uyo, where Victor Osimhen scored a hat-trick for Nigeria, causing Benin to slip to third place based on goal difference.
There was relief among South African fans as the 3-0 forfeit imposed by Fifa for fielding an ineligible player in their victory over Lesotho in March did not ultimately cost them. That decision had temporarily dropped South Africa from the top of the group to second place, behind Benin on goal difference, ahead of the final two rounds of preliminaries. Despite dropping points in a draw against Zimbabwe, Benin’s defeat in the West African derby allowed South Africa to capitalize on their opportunity against the Wasps.
The remaining two automatic qualifying spots from Africa will be contested between Senegal and DR Congo from Group B, and Ivory Coast and Gabon from Group F. These decisions are expected later on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Nigeria still has a pathway to the World Cup through a challenging route that may involve an additional four matches.
A victory was enough for the Super Eagles to secure one of four places in next month’s African play-offs. The overall winner of these play-offs will progress to Fifa’s final six-team intercontinental qualifier scheduled for next March. These games will decide the last two qualifiers for the expanded 48-team World Cup set to be hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
The Nigerian team, under the guidance of Eric Chelle, has experienced a rollercoaster qualifying campaign. After initially struggling under previous coaches, Chelle managed to stabilize the team’s performance. Victor Osimhen’s return was pivotal as he delivered exceptional performances, including a decisive hat-trick against Benin, which secured Nigeria’s spot in the play-offs.
Osimhen’s influence on the team was evident as he scored early in the match against Benin, followed by a second goal before halftime. He completed his hat-trick with a spectacular diving header early in the second half. Frank Onyeka sealed the 4-0 victory with a late goal, ensuring Nigeria’s place in the play-offs.
Maintaining Osimhen’s fitness will be crucial for Nigeria as they prepare for next month’s continental play-offs, with hopes of securing a place at the World Cup finals next year.