Nigeria 4-0 Benin: People are disappointed - Victor Ikpeba tells Super Eagles

Former Nigeria international Victor Ikpeba has warned that the 2026 FIFA World Cup playoffs will pose a serious challenge for the Super Eagles, despite their emphatic 4–0 victory over the Benin Republic in Uyo on Tuesday night.

The win, powered by Victor Osimhen’s hat-trick and Frank Onyeka’s late strike, saw Nigeria secure a place in the playoff stage after finishing as one of the four best second-placed teams in the qualifiers.

Speaking on SuperSport, the former Monaco striker expressed his disappointment that Nigeria failed to claim an automatic qualification spot.

“People are disappointed. We should capitalise on the potential we have in our group. I can’t wait for the playoffs. The games with Gabon and Cameroon are spicy. These are great derbies in African football,” Ikpeba said via Complete sports.

Ikpeba, a member of the Super Eagles’ 1994 AFCON-winning squad, cautioned that the upcoming matches will not be easy, especially against top African rivals.

“If we have to play Cameroon, that is another struggle, another spicy game. It’s not going to come easy, in this playoff, no,” he noted.

Despite acknowledging the difficulty of the task, the former African Footballer of the Year remains optimistic that Nigeria can qualify for the World Cup if it maintains the same fighting spirit.

“I wish our boys well. All the best of luck, and if they get to these games with the same mentality, I think we will get through it,” Ikpeba added.

Nigeria will face Gabon in the semi-final of the playoffs, while Cameroon and DR Congo clash in the other fixture.

The playoffs will be staged in Morocco from November 13 to 16, 2025, with the overall winner advancing to the intercontinental playoffs scheduled for March 2026 in North America.