Victor Osimhen’s name echoed far beyond Uyo on Tuesday night after the Nigerian forward delivered a jaw-dropping hat-trick that fired the Super Eagles into the 2026 World Cup play-offs and even rival players couldn’t hold back their admiration.
South African midfielder Teboho Mokoena led the applause, calling Osimhen his “GOAT” in a viral post on social media. His teammate Khuliso Mudau also chimed in, describing the Galatasaray striker as “a phenomenal player.”
Their reactions came after a breathtaking performance from Osimhen, who almost singlehandedly dismantled the Benin Republic in a 4–0 rout at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium.
The Nigerian talisman wasted no time getting on the scoresheet, calmly slotting home in the third minute from a Samuel Chukwueze assist. He doubled his tally before halftime with a thunderous header again set up by Chukwueze and sealed his hat-trick early in the second half after pouncing on Moses Simon’s pinpoint free-kick.
Midfielder Frank Onyeka added the icing on the cake with a late strike to complete Nigeria’s dominant display. The victory saw the Super Eagles finish among Africa’s best four runners-up, advancing to the final play-off stage with 15 points and a +7 goal difference.
Meanwhile, South Africa had their own reasons to celebrate. Bafana Bafana confirmed their World Cup ticket on the same night with a confident 3–0 win over Rwanda in Mbombela, thanks to goals from Talente Mbatha, Oswin Appollis, and Evides Makgopa. They topped Group C with 18 points — narrowly edging out Nigeria and Benin, who both ended on 17.
For Mokoena, his tribute to Osimhen carried even more weight, considering his rocky road earlier in the qualifiers. The midfielder had been at the center of a FIFA investigation following an ineligible appearance against Lesotho, which cost South Africa three points. Despite that setback, he bounced back to play a crucial role in their qualification success.
Osimhen’s latest heroics pushed his international goal tally to 29, placing him just eight shy of Rashidi Yekini’s long-standing national record. The Confederation of African Football hailed his performance, dubbing him the “heartbeat of Nigeria’s attack.”
With form, confidence, and praise all soaring, it’s clear — Osimhen’s legend is only just beginning.
