Tinubu Hails Osimhen’s Heroics as Super Eagles Soar into World Cup Playoffs

By Abiola Adigun|Albarka 89.9 FM| Sports |
October 15,2025

President Bola Tinubu has congratulated the Super Eagles for their emphatic 4–0 demolition of the Benin Republic’s Cheetahs on Tuesday night in Uyo, a result that secured Nigeria’s place in the African playoff tournament for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu commended the team’s “hunger, passion and determination,” describing the victory as a rekindling of Nigeria’s football pride.
“While the job is not yet complete, I join millions of Nigerian football fans in wishing our team every success in the playoffs,” the President said. “As your President, I assure you and the coaching crew of the Federal Government’s full support as you strive to secure your place at the World Cup. Nigerians everywhere believe in you, and I do too.”
The Super Eagles’ qualification came courtesy of a stunning hat-trick by Napoli striker Victor Osimhen and a thunderous late strike from Brentford midfielder Frank Onyeka, sealing a commanding 4–0 victory at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium.
Osimhen wasted no time setting the tone, scoring just two minutes into the game from a Samuel Chukwueze assist before doubling the lead in the 36th minute with a trademark header. He completed his hat-trick early in the second half, taking his international tally to 29 goals in 44 appearances — just nine short of Nigeria’s all-time record holder, the late Rashidi Yekini.
Substitute Frank Onyeka completed the rout in the 90th minute, firing home a cross from Moses Simon to cap a dominant performance that delighted the home crowd in Uyo.
Despite the win, the Super Eagles narrowly missed automatic qualification after South Africa defeated Rwanda 3–0 at the Mbombela Stadium, leaving Nigeria to advance as one of the four best second-placed teams to the CAF playoff tournament scheduled for Morocco from November 13 to 16.
The playoff tournament in Morocco will determine which African team advances to the six-nation intercontinental playoffs slated for Guadalajara and Monterrey, Mexico, in March 2026. There, the African winner will compete against teams from Asia, South America, Central America, and Oceania for one of the final two World Cup slots.
Across Nigeria, fans took to social media to celebrate the victory, hailing Osimhen’s heroics and the team’s renewed fighting spirit.
Former Super Eagles captain Joseph Yobo described the result as “a turning point,” saying it would restore confidence among players and supporters alike. “This is the hunger Nigerians have been yearning to see,” he said. “If the team sustains this momentum, the World Cup ticket is within reach.”
For the Tinubu administration, the victory serves as a unifying moment amid Nigeria’s challenging times. As the President noted, the team’s performance “reflects the spirit of resilience and hope that defines the Nigerian people.”
The Super Eagles will now focus on the crucial playoff battles in Morocco next month — with the nation watching and believing once again.