Nigeria qualify for 35th AFCON finals
Nigeria secured a ticket to participate in the Africa Cup of Nations finals for the 21st time after a 1-1 draw with Benin Republic in Abidjan on Thursday that still put the Cheetahs’ prospects for qualification on the wire.
Victor Osimhen’s 81st minute header did not only secured Nigeria’s first place in the group, but also put him at par with the legendary Olusegun Odegbami in goals’ tally for Nigeria.
Both are now joint second to the top man, late Rashidi Yekini who scored 37 goals in 58 matches.
Osimhen’s goal,was his 23rd for the senior team.
Odegbami, the former captain of the team who took the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations finals by the scruff, scored his 23 goals in 46 matches.
Osimhen’s goal sent the Super Eagles to Morocco 2025 as group winners, and ensured the Eagles remain unbeaten in the AFCON qualification campaign going into their last game of the series, against Rwanda in Uyo on Monday.
Rwanda, with five points from their five games after an unexpected 1-0 loss to Libya in Kigali also on Thursday, must beat the Super Eagles in Uyo and hope that Libya overwhelm Benin Republic in Tripoli on Monday, to spring to second place and pick the second ticket to the finals from Group D.
