The night belonged to a striker who thrives when the pressure is heaviest, and this time the roar in Uyo felt like a promise kept. With a ruthless Victor Osimhen hat-trick in a 4-0 victory over Benin, Nigeria marched into the CAF route of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and the country’s modern talisman moved to the doorstep of an immortal record.
How Osimhen dismantled Benin
From the second minute the script was unmistakable, Osimhen would not be denied. He pounced early to settle nerves at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, then rose with that familiar leap for a trademark header to double the cushion by the 35th minute. Just after halftime he timed his third to perfection, a cool finish for the complete center forward’s treble.
Frank Onyeka added the exclamation in stoppage time, his 90+1 effort sealing the 4-0 scoreline that sent a packed stadium into celebrations and secured Nigeria’s place among the continent’s playoff contenders. It was the performance that restored belief after a turbulent qualifying path, and it arrived with clarity, efficiency and swagger.
Chasing Yekini and the meaning of 29
Osimhen began the night on 26 international goals and ended it at 29, now just eight shy of Rashidi Yekini’s revered 37. That single number carries the weight of generations, a reminder that Nigerian strikers are judged as much by lineage as by form. The Super Eagles have long measured greatness by the Yekini bar, and the Galatasaray forward is closing fast.
In total he has 29 goals in 44 appearances for Nigeria, a pace that has turned a distant milestone into a realistic target. With the playoffs ahead and momentum finally aligned, eight goals no longer look like an impossible climb, they look achievable with the hunger of a finisher who relishes the big moments.
The road ahead and the playoff picture
CAF’s updated qualification format, following Eritrea’s withdrawal, confirmed Nigeria among the best second-placed teams heading for the African playoffs in Morocco next month. The equation is clear, win there and the Super Eagles advance to the Six-Team Intercontinental Playoff in Mexico, where two nations will grab the final tickets to the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
It is a demanding path, but it suits a Nigeria squad that just rediscovered its edge. In Uyo, head coach Eric Chelle praised the group for spirit and resilience, calling the performance a reflection of the Nigerian identity. The focus shifts now to November, preparation, and the same ruthless efficiency that turned a tense finale into a statement win.
Galatasaray pride and the caution that never leaves
Back in Turkey the echoes of Uyo were felt in yellow and red. Galatasaray celebrated their marquee signing with a public salute, applauding his three goals and calling out his vital role in helping Nigeria reach the playoff. The message on X captured the mood, congratulations Victor Osimhen, a night that bridged club pride and national joy.
Yet the joy comes with an honest tension. Manager Okan Buruk admitted the club gets nervous when the international break arrives for their star forward. He spoke of the realities of African qualifiers, pitch conditions, intensity, travel and even a recent issue with the return plane. Osimhen has already missed seven matches for club and country this season, and his latest significant setback came on Nigeria duty against Rwanda in the previous window, after which he was sidelined for around a month.
“We are starting to get scared when we send Osimhen off. Players playing in Africa have fears because of the pitch conditions and the intensity of the matches,” Okan Buruk told reporters, while expressing hope that he would complete the second match safely and return.
That is the paradox of international superstardom, the same engine that fires national dreams must also drive the club’s season. Galatasaray quadrupled their previous transfer record to bring him from Napoli, and they have seen why, he has found form and fire in Istanbul, while Nigerians see him as the beacon for a World Cup return.
The Lion of Lagos and a season of goals
In Turkey the champions have already embraced the persona. Fans have called him the Lion of Lagos, a nod to the ruthless edge that has produced a stunning return. Since his summer move for a record fee reported at 75 million euros, he has been electric, 18 goals in 11 league appearances illustrate a striker in full flow and a fan base enthralled by his relentlessness.
Osimhen’s leadership has mirrored that output for the Super Eagles. In this window he was the heartbeat of a side that needed clarity and found it. The hat-trick was not just about technique or timing, it was about responsibility, the willingness to carry a nation when the margins are thin and the stakes unforgiving.
Teammates and the mentor within the number nine
Inside the Nigerian camp his influence goes beyond the finish. Forward Tolu Arokodare captured it with a simple tribute, a thank you to a senior striker who sets standards with work rate and hunger. The message resonated because it matched what viewers saw on the pitch, a leader by example.
“Thank you sir @victorosimhen9. An honour watching you, playing with you and learning from you,” Arokodare posted, a nod to Osimhen’s presence as mentor and inspiration.
That mentorship matters in the crucible of qualifying. It anchors younger forwards, it steadies the group in difficult stretches, and it insists on a level of intensity that must be sustained through the playoffs and beyond.
Fans, comparisons and a debate that will not end
Greatness invites comparison, and after Uyo the conversation among fans spiked into global territory. On social media many Nigerian supporters argued that Osimhen is performing at a level to be considered better than Erling Haaland, especially after the Norwegian scored a hat-trick against Israel but missed two penalties on the same night. It was passion, it was pride, and it was the language of fans who see their own number nine lifting a nation.
“Osimhen is better than Haaland, but we are not ready for this discussion,” one fan wrote, a sentiment echoed throughout the evening.
Numbers were posted to fortify the feeling, including highlights of his recent goal contributions and a pointed note that Nigeria have not lost a World Cup qualifier with Osimhen on the pitch, four wins and one draw. The fairest conclusion is simpler, the two play in different contexts and carry different burdens, but Osimhen’s international influence is undeniable and rising.
The anatomy of a decisive center forward
Strip away the noise and the core traits remain. Osimhen’s first step across defenders, the near-post run, the hang time on headers, the calmness when the angle narrows, these are tools of an elite striker. Add leadership and a refusal to hide when the moment is biggest, and you have the profile of Nigeria’s most important footballer today.
- Movement that creates options for teammates and chaos for markers,
- Acceleration that turns hopeful passes into chances,
- Composure that converts pressure into goals.
Those attributes came together against Benin, and they must be replicated in Morocco. In tight playoff matches, one clean takeoff or one perfectly timed header often separates celebration from regret.
Context, continuity and the record that awaits
Yekini’s 37 stands like a monument because it demands both consistency and longevity. Osimhen’s climb to 29 has been fast, but it also reflects a player who can exert control over the biggest nights. When he speaks about honoring Yekini’s legacy, it carries the right tone, respect for those who made the path and determination to extend it.
For Nigeria the symbolism is rich. The country that once soared with Yekini’s fists clenched through a net can now dream with a new figurehead at the apex. If the strike rate holds, the record could fall as the World Cup beckons, a narrative thread that would place Osimhen firmly among the nation’s all-time greats.
Club and country, shared interest and delicate balance
The conversation around player welfare is never more intense than in months like these. Buruk’s candid worry about international breaks is not a complaint, it is recognition of the load star players carry, and of the variables that surround African travel and fixtures. The fear is understandable, the celebration is genuine, both truths can coexist.
Galatasaray’s public tribute after the Benin masterclass underlined that duality. They invested heavily and they are watching a forward who justifies every expectation. Nigeria is witnessing the same thing, a striker who has turned anxiety into adrenaline and made goals feel inevitable again.
What the win tells us about the Super Eagles
Uyo offered more than a scoreline. It showed a team rediscovering balance, a midfield willing to run, and a front line that pressed with purpose. When the tone is set by a center forward who hunts relentlessly, the rest of the structure tightens. The clean sheet, the four goals, the late punch from Onyeka, everything spoke of a group that can play with urgency without losing control.
That will be essential in Morocco. Playoffs rarely reward flamboyance without discipline. If Nigeria marries the Uyo intensity with the composure seen in the second half, the path to Mexico’s intercontinental playoff will feel less like a cliff edge and more like a staircase.
Final word on a night that felt bigger than three goals
This was never just about a hat-trick, it was about timing, leadership and the burden of a jersey that defines careers. Osimhen met the night without blinking and pulled a country forward. He left Uyo with the match ball, with 29 in green and white, and with the horizon clearing.
The next chapter will be written in Morocco, then possibly Mexico. For now, the record chase is alive, the World Cup dream is intact, and a striker in Galatasaray colors continues to own the biggest stages. If he delivers the way he did against Benin, Victor Osimhen will not just break a record, he will define an era for the Super Eagles.
