Nigeria began their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign in style with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Benin at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Saturday evening.
Goals from Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman and Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen, who came off the bench, secured the win for Augustine Eguavoen’s side.
After a series of disappointing results, including a defeat to Benin in the World Cup qualifiers last June, the Super Eagles responded emphatically, dominating the match and securing a much-needed victory.
These are the individual ratings of Austin Eguavoen's troops from the keenly contested Super Eagles vs Benin affair in Uyo on Saturday evening.
Stanley Nwabali – 8/10
The Chippa United goalkeeper produced a composed and assured performance. Despite a nervy moment early on when a poor first touch almost put Nigeria under pressure, Nwabali recovered well, making key saves in both halves. His standout stop came from a point-blank effort by Steve Mounié, ensuring Nigeria kept a clean sheet.
William Troost-Ekong – 7.3/10
The Super Eagles captain marshaled the defence with authority, providing a calming presence throughout. He organized well, though there was a brief moment of miscommunication that almost led to a Benin chance. Nonetheless, Troost-Ekong's leadership was vital in securing a clean sheet.
Semi Ajayi – 7.6/10
Ajayi delivered a solid performance alongside Troost-Ekong. His defensive positioning was excellent, and he showed great composure with the ball at his feet. He also played some impressive long passes to start attacks, adding another dimension to Nigeria’s play.
Calvin Bassey – 7/10
The Fulham defender put in a reliable shift, though he wasn’t tested too much. He received a yellow card for handball after pressure from Mounié, but aside from that, he remained composed and contributed effectively to the defensive effort.
Ola Aina – 7.1/10
The full-back was strong defensively, showing his usual energy on the right. He struggled to influence the attack in the first half but picked up his game as the match progressed. Impressively, Aina was never dribbled past.
Bruno Onyemaechi – 7.1/10
Solid and dependable at left-back, Onyemaechi was disciplined in his primary defensive duties. He ventured forward at times, but his final ball in the attacking third could have been sharper. Overall, a strong performance in his defensive role.
Alex Iwobi – 6.9/10
Iwobi had a decent game but failed to fully control the match from the middle of the park. His passing was tidy, and his combination play with Ndidi was effective, but he didn’t create much in the way of clear-cut chances. He will look to be more influential in future outings.
Wilfred Ndidi – 7.1/10
The Leicester City midfielder was a commanding presence at the base of midfield. His passing was crisp, and he provided much-needed stability. Ndidi also registered an assist, though he could have done more with his decision-making in the final third.
Ademola Lookman – 9/10
A brilliant performance from the Atalanta winger, who was Nigeria's most dangerous player throughout the match. Lookman scored two well-taken goals and was unlucky not to have completed a hat-trick after being denied by the Benin goalkeeper. His pace, dribbling, and finishing made him a constant threat to the opposition.
Samuel Chukwueze – 6.9/10
Chukwueze started brightly, linking up well with his teammates in the first half. However, as the game wore on, his influence waned, and he saw less of the ball. While his defensive work rate was commendable, Chukwueze will feel he could have contributed more offensively.
Victor Boniface – 6.9/10
Boniface showed flashes of promise but was largely quiet. He had two chances to score but failed to convert, and his movement at times left Nigeria without a clear target man in the box. Nevertheless, his combination play with Lookman was a positive aspect of his performance.
Substitutes
Victor Osimhen – 7.5/10
Introduced in the second half, Osimhen’s presence immediately lifted Nigeria’s attack. He took his goal well to seal the win, but could have had more, missing two other good chances. Despite arriving late to camp, Osimhen proved his quality and added energy to the Super Eagles' forward line.
Moses Simon – 7/10
The Nantes winger made an impact off the bench, providing the assist for Lookman’s second goal. His pace and dribbling caused problems for Benin's defence, and he made a strong case for a starting role in the next match.
Fisayo Dele-Bashiru – 6.8/10
The midfielder brought fresh legs into the game and played a key part in the build-up to Nigeria’s second goal with a clever pre-assist. However, his introduction saw Nigeria lose some control in the middle of the park.
Olisa Ndah – 6.7/10
The Orlando Pirates defender replaced Bassey and performed well under pressure. He had a few shaky moments but ultimately contributed to keeping the clean sheet. Ndah will be pleased with his showing in a high-stakes match.
