Nigeria beat Benin 3-0 in the first round of the qualifiers for the Africa Cup of Nations, which will be hosted by Morocco between December 21, 2025 and January 18, 2026.
Atalanta striker Ademola Lookman scored (45+2) and 83, and substitute striker Victor Osimhen, the new arrival to Galatasaray on loan from Napoli (78).
Nigeria, runner-up to Ivory Coast in the last edition of the African Championship, topped Group D, which also included Rwanda and Libya (one point).
This is Osimhen’s 22nd goal in 36 international matches, and his first since his goal against Equatorial Guinea in the opening match of the Africa Cup of Nations on January 14.
The former Napoli striker missed the last four matches, including against Benin and South Africa in World Cup qualifiers, due to injury.
In turn, Lookman, who led Atalanta to the Europa League title at the expense of Bayer Leverkusen by scoring a hat-trick, scored his seventh and eighth goals in his 24th match.
In the third group, Mauritania achieved a late victory over its guest, Botswana, with a goal without a response scored by Sidi Bouna Amar (84).
Mauritania came in second place behind Egypt on goal difference, after the Pharaohs beat Cape Verde 3-0 on Friday.
Veteran striker Vincent Aboubakar led Cameroon to a 1-0 win over visiting Namibia, scoring in the 65th minute.
Cameroon moved to the top of Group 7, one point ahead of Kenya and Zimbabwe.
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