Nigeria's players pose for a team photograph ahead of the Morocco 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Group D qualification football match between Nigeria and Benin at the Houphouet Boigny stadium in Abidjan, on November 14, 2024. (Photo by Sia KAMBOU / AFP)
Nigeria’s players pose for a team photograph ahead of the Morocco 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Group D qualification football match between Nigeria and Benin at the Houphouet Boigny stadium in Abidjan, on November 14, 2024. (Photo by Sia KAMBOU / AFP)
A late equaliser from Victor Osimhen stamped Nigeria’s ticket for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations on Thursday.
Nigeria were trailing against Benin in Group D before reigning African Footballer of the Year Osimhen equalised nine minutes from time to secure a 1-1 draw in Abidjan.
Mohamed Tijani had put Benin ahead after 16 minutes as they sought to repeat a shock triumph over Nigeria in a 2026 World Cup qualifier at the same stadium last year.
Nigeria top the table with 11 points after five rounds, leaving Benin (seven), Rwanda (five) and Libya (four) to fight for the second qualification place.
Nigeria host Rwanda on Monday at the same time as Libya will have home advantage over Benin. Libya got back into contention by beating Rwanda 1-0 through a late Fahd Mohamed goal in Kigali.
See photos from the encounter below:
Nigeria’s forward #09 Victor James Osimhen (R) controls the ball in front of Benin’s forward #18 Ishola Junior Olaitan (L) during the Morocco 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Group D qualification football match between Nigeria and Benin at the Houphouet Boigny stadium in Abidjan, on November 14, 2024. (Photo by Sia KAMBOU / AFP)Nigeria’s defender #21 Calvin Bassey (L) and Benin’s forward #09 Steve Mounie (C) fight for the ball during the Morocco 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Group D qualification football match between Nigeria and Benin at the Houphouet Boigny stadium in Abidjan, on November 14, 2024. (Photo by Sia KAMBOU / AFP)Benin’s players pose for a team photograph ahead of the Morocco 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Group D qualification football match between Nigeria and Benin at the Houphouet Boigny stadium in Abidjan, on November 14, 2024. (Photo by Sia KAMBOU / AFP)Benin’s players celebrate after scoring their first goal during the Morocco 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Group D qualification football match between Nigeria and Benin at the Houphouet Boigny stadium in Abidjan, on November 14, 2024. (Photo by Sia KAMBOU / AFP)Benin’s forward #18 Ishola Junior Olaitan (CR) and Nigeria’s midfielder #02 Temitayo Olufisayo Olaoluwa Aina (CL) fight for the ball during the Morocco 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Group D qualification football match between Nigeria and Benin at the Houphouet Boigny stadium in Abidjan, on November 14, 2024. (Photo by Sia KAMBOU / AFP)Nigeria’s forward #07 Ademola Lookman (CL) and Benin’s defender #11 Abdoul Rachid Moumini (CR) fight for the ball during the Morocco 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Group D qualification football match between Nigeria and Benin at the Houphouet Boigny stadium in Abidjan, on November 14, 2024. (Photo by Sia KAMBOU / AFP)Nigeria’s midfielder #04 Wilfred Ndidi (C) runs with the ball in front of Benin’s forward #09 Steve Mounie (R) during the Morocco 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Group D qualification football match between Nigeria and Benin at the Houphouet Boigny stadium in Abidjan, on November 14, 2024. (Photo by Sia KAMBOU / AFP)Nigeria’s midfielder #04 Wilfred Ndidi (C) runs with the ball in front of Benin’s forward #09 Steve Mounie (R) during the Morocco 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Group D qualification football match between Nigeria and Benin at the Houphouet Boigny stadium in Abidjan, on November 14, 2024. (Photo by Sia KAMBOU / AFP)Benin’s players celebrate after scoring their first goal during the Morocco 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Group D qualification football match between Nigeria and Benin at the Houphouet Boigny stadium in Abidjan, on November 14, 2024. (Photo by Sia KAMBOU / AFP)Benin’s German head coach Gernot Rohr gestures from the technical area during the Morocco 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Group D qualification football match between Nigeria and Benin at the Houphouet Boigny stadium in Abidjan, on November 14, 2024. (Photo by Sia KAMBOU / AFP)Nigeria’s defender #21 Calvin Bassey (R) and Benin’s forward #19 Francisco Dodo Dokou (L) fight for the ball during the Morocco 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Group D qualification football match between Nigeria and Benin at the Houphouet Boigny stadium in Abidjan, on November 14, 2024. (Photo by Sia KAMBOU / AFP)Benin’s forward #19 Francisco Dodo Dokou (R) watches as Nigeria’s defender #13 Bruno Onyemaechi (C) runs with the ball during the Morocco 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Group D qualification football match between Nigeria and Benin at the Houphouet Boigny stadium in Abidjan, on November 14, 2024. (Photo by Sia KAMBOU / AFP)Nigeria’s midfielder #17 Alexander Chuka Iwobi (C) runs with the ball during the Morocco 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Group D qualification football match between Nigeria and Benin at the Houphouet Boigny stadium in Abidjan, on November 14, 2024. (Photo by Sia KAMBOU / AFP)Nigeria’s players pose for a team photograph ahead of the Morocco 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Group D qualification football match between Nigeria and Benin at the Houphouet Boigny stadium in Abidjan, on November 14, 2024. (Photo by Sia KAMBOU / AFP)
