Nigeria secured the top position in Group D of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualification series after a 1-1 draw against Benin Republic on Thursday at the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, currently on loan, netted an 81st-minute header to equalize for Nigeria after the host team had taken the lead in the first half with a header of their own. This draw ensured Nigeria finished with an uncatchable 11 points in the group, having already qualified for the tournament in Morocco after Libya’s 1-0 victory over Rwanda earlier on Thursday.
Nigeria had not conceded a goal until their encounter with Benin, but they were breached in the 16th minute when Mohamed Tijani scored for the hosts, heading in from a well-executed corner kick past goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali.
Osimhen had a chance to equalize before halftime but missed a header from a Bruno Onyemaechi cross. Despite their struggles, Nigeria managed to equalize in the second half thanks to Osimhen’s header, which was more challenging than the earlier miss.
Though it wasn’t a flawless performance, Nigeria’s point was enough to guarantee them the top spot in Group D. Benin Republic remains second with seven points, while Rwanda and Libya battle for the final qualification spot with five and four points, respectively.
In their final match, Nigeria will play for pride against Rwanda at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Monday. Benin will face Libya in the other crucial encounter as the battle for the final qualification spot intensifies.
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