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South Africa celebrate as Osimhen ousts Benin
Published
14 Oct 2025
Read how South Africa qualified for the FIFA World Cup 26 thanks largely to a Victor Osimhen-inspired Nigeria victory over Benin.
Mohau Nkota of South Africa celebrates goal during the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers 2026 match between South Africa and Nigeria at the Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein on the 09 September 2025 ©Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix
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South Africa returned to the FIFA World Cup™ on a dramatic final day of Group C action that saw Benin drop from first to third, and Nigeria’s Super Eagles soar to second.
Elsewhere, Uganda finished Group G runners-up, while The Gambia went on a goal spree in the Seychelles.
Read on as FIFA brings you up-to-date on the latest World Cup 26 preliminary action in Africa.
Group B
Group B
P W D L GD Pts
1
SEN
9 6 3 0 15 21
2
COD
9 6 1 2 8 19
3
SDN
9 3 4 2 3 13
4
TOG
10 1 5 4 -5 8
5
MTN
9 1 4 4 -5 7
6
SSD
10 0 5 5 -16 5
Congo DR v Sudan
Senegal v Mauritania
Former African Footballer of the Year, Victor Osimhen scored a superb hat-trick as Nigeria boosted their qualifying hopes and broke Benin’s hearts amid a thrilling conclusion to Group C.
The visitors began the day in pole position but made the worst possible start in Uyo, falling behind inside the first three minutes.
A loose pass in midfield allowed Samuel Chukwueze to snatch possession and thread a superb through ball to Osimhen who obliged with a typically decisive finish.
Chukwueze remained a constant thorn in the visitors’ side, and he was again the architect when the lead was doubled as half-time approached.
No-one across the past week’s World Cup qualifiers will have delivered a better cross than the winger’s inch-perfect inswinger, which Osimhen rewarded with a towering back-post header.
Benin simply had no answer to the Galatasaray striker’s pace and power, and he sealed their fate just a few minutes into the second half by heading home brilliantly from Moses Simon’s floated free-kick.
Substitute Frank Onyeka volleyed in an excellent fourth, allowing South Africa to seize top spot and a guaranteed World Cup berth, with Benin dropping from first place to third.
Nigeria now await the final ranking of CAF runners-up before finding if they are one of the four teams left battling out for a FIFA Play-off Tournament slot
