Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers: Nigeria tops group… Aboubakar leads Cameroon to victory over Namibia

Nigeria cruised to a 3-0 win over Benin on Saturday in the opening round of qualifiers for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, which will be hosted by Morocco from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.

Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman scored twice (45+2 and 83), while substitute striker Victor Osimhen, on loan at Turkish side Galatasaray from Napoli, added a goal in the 78th minute.

Nigeria, runners-up in the last Africa Cup of Nations to Ivory Coast, now leads Group D, which also includes Rwanda and Libya (both with one point each).

This was Osimhen’s 22nd goal in 36 international appearances and his first since scoring against Equatorial Guinea in the opening match of the Africa Cup of Nations on January 14. The former Napoli striker had missed the last four matches due to injury.

Meanwhile, Lookman, who led Atalanta to the Europa League title with a hat-trick against Bayer Leverkusen, netted his seventh and eighth goals in his 24th international match.

Earlier, Libya drew 1-1 with Rwanda on Wednesday.

In Group C, Mauritania secured a late 1-0 victory over Botswana, with Sidi Bouna Amar scoring in the 84th minute.

Mauritania sits second behind Egypt, who defeated Cape Verde 3-0 on Friday.

In another match, veteran striker Vincent Aboubakar guided Cameroon to a 1-0 win over Namibia, scoring in the 65th minute.

Cameroon moved to the top of Group G, one point ahead of Kenya and Zimbabwe.