Former Nigeria striker, Benedict Akwuegbu, has exclusively told Exclusivenews.com.ng that he's 'proud' of Victor Osimhen who posted a hattrick performance in Super Eagles 4-0 defeat of Benin Republic in Tuesday night's group C final round match of the Africa zone of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

Osimhen, winner of the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile with the Nigeria Golden Eaglets handled by Emmanuel Amuneke, MFR, scored on the 3rd, 37th and 51st minutes of the game before Frank Onyeka added the 4th goal in the stoppage time.

The huge win meant that Super Eagles leap-frogged The Squirrels of Benin Republic in the group standings on goals difference after both sides finished on 17 points behind group winners, Bafana Bafana of South Africa who finished the race on 18 points.

It was Osimhen's Super Eagles first hattrick with the result proving just enough to qualify Nigeria for the play-offs after finishing amongst the four second placed teams.

An obviously delighted Akwuegbu spoke to Exclusivenews.com.ng from his base in the United Kingdom, eulogising the Galatasaray of Turkey forward and renewed his desire for the striker to play in bigger clubs in Europe.

The 'Austria Bomber', as Akwuegbu is fondly called declared that Super Eagles coast for the 2026 World Cup finals is now clearer and that with the play-offs window now open for them to make their 7th World Cup finals appearance, their fate now lies supremely in their own hands.

"I must first of all congratulate the team for the victory. I must confess that this is the team's best performance in recent times and particularly in the qualification series", starts Akwuegbu, a former Nigeria U-17, U-20, and Super Eagles Forward.

"If they had been playing like this, with this level of commitment, determination and dedication, they would have finished on top of the group table long ago.

"They left it late and now they have revived their chances of making it to the World Cup through the play-offs and I must say that their fate of playing in the 2026 World Cup in Mexico, USA and Canada lies in their own hands.

"It's credit to the coach for the strategy and pattern which the team hasn't played for a very long time. It's also credit to the NFF leadership under Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau. Credit also goes to the National Sports Commission, NSC, Chairman, Shehu Dikko, who has been working closely with the NFF leadership, even traveling with the team and rendering every support.

"I'm particularly 'proud' of Victor Osimhen. He's shown that he's one of the best strikers in the World today. His quality belongs to the best clubs in Europe and I've said this time and time again.

"Osimhen represents the perfect face of an ideal striker in World football today and he'll further demonstrate this at the World Cup next year", Akwuegbu posited with confidence.

Gabon, Cameroon, Nigeria and Burkina Faso emerged as the 'best' four second placed teams after the qualifiers on Tuesday and will now clash in the play-offs billed for next month, November 13--16, in Morocco.

The winner of the play-offs in Morocco will advance to the intercontinental play-offs in March next year involving play-off winners from Asia, South America, Oceania and CONCACAF.