Afcon 2025: Lookman’s brace against Benin boosts his African Footballer of the Year chances as Osimhen over Aiyegbeni on the all-time list
Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman's chance of winning got a further boost on Saturday as he scored a brace against Benin Republic in the Afcon 2025 qualifier match. Also, Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has climbed to third place on Nigeria’s all-time top scorers’ list, surpassing Yakubu Aiyegbeni with his 22nd goal for the Super Eagles.
Osimhen’s latest strike came during Nigeria’s commanding 3-0 victory over Benin Republic in Uyo on Saturday evening.
The 25-year-old forward, currently on loan at Galatasaray from Napoli, was introduced in the 72nd minute, replacing Victor Boniface.
It did not take long for Osimhen to make his mark, as just six minutes later, he latched onto a low cross from Wilfred Ndidi on the right flank and acrobatically placed the ball past the Benin goalkeeper.
His goal doubled Nigeria’s lead after Ademola Lookman had earlier put the Super Eagles ahead with an excellent strike.
Osimhen’s latest strike sees him edge past Aiyegbeni’s 21-goal tally, placing him firmly in third on the Super Eagles’ all-time scoring chart.
He is now just one goal behind Segun Odegbami’s 23-goal record and remains within sight of Nigeria’s greatest-ever goalscorer, Rashidi Yekini, who leads with 37 goals.
Super Eagles returned to winning ways with a commanding 3-0 spanking of the Cheetahs of Benin Republic on Matchday 1 of the 2025 Afcon qualifiers in Uyo on Saturday.
Deep into added in the half, Lookman took matters entirely into his own hands. Latching onto a floated ball that was read incorrectly by a defender, the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations showman beat three defenders on the trot and gently placed the ball beyond the reach of goalkeeper Marcel Dandjinou for Nigeria’s first goal.
Before then, Germany-based forward Boniface had fluffed several opportunities, including when one-on-man with Dandjinou after a shot by Samuel Chukwueze was blocked by Cedric Hountondji. In the 14th minute, Lookman came close off a pass from the lively Chukwueze, and 12 minutes later, Chukwueze saw his promising lift from a free-kick punched over the bar.
In the second half, Boniface wasted another glorious chance as the ubiquitous Bruno Onyemaechi sent a cross into the box, and in the 53rd minute, Lookman himself failed to beat Dandjinou from a one-on-one as Nigeria counter-attacked.
In the 66th, Nwabali made a glorious double save from the boots of Cheetahs’ captain Steve Mounie, and 13 minutes later, Nigeria went 2-0 up when substitute Victor Osimhen lashed in a half volley from a pass by Wilfred Ndidi.
With nine minutes to go, Osimhen missed with only the keeper to beat as Nigeria again broke forward, but Lookman made it a handsome win when his glancing header off a cross by substitute Moses Simon flew past Dandjinou and into the top corner, with seven minutes left.
The win catapulted the Super Eagles to the top of the table, with Rwanda and Libya having battled to a 1-1 draw in Tripoli on Wednesday. Next up for the Eagles is a clash with Rwanda’s Amavubi in Kigali on Tuesday afternoon, while Benin Republic will host Libya’s Mediterranean Knights in Abidjan.
