McCarthy noted that South Africa qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup because “Nigeria taught Benin a lesson.”
By Kehinde Okeowo
Former South Africa striker, Benni McCarthy, has praised the Super Eagles of Nigeria for their victory over the Benin Republic in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying series, a result that ultimately helped his country book their place at the tournament.
McCarthy expressed his appreciation recently during an appearance as a guest on SportyTV.
The Super Eagles thrashed their West African neighbours 4-0 in Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom State, in their final group game of the qualifying series.
The loss meant that Benin, who were sitting top of Group C going into the encounter, failed to qualify. Crucially, the outcome sent Nigeria into the playoff round while securing automatic qualification for South Africa.
Nigeria needed to score at least four goals to reach the playoffs, a requirement fulfilled by a Victor Osimhen hat-trick and a late strike from Frank Onyeka.
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While revisiting the crucial match, McCarthy said he was pleased that Nigeria turned up and explicitly acknowledged that South Africa qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup because “Nigeria taught Benin a lesson.”
Speaking during the interview, he said: “I was at home in the UK and I was watching, keeping a really, really close eye…I was rooting for them and hoping that they would win and that Nigeria beat Benin.
“Because even if South Africa had won, if Benin beat Nigeria, South Africa is still out.
“I was pleased Nigeria taught Benin a lesson because it opened the door for us to walk through and qualify for the World Cup.”
McCarthy, South African all-time highest scorer with 31 goals, was in the squad beaten 1-0 by Nigeria in a 2010 World Cup qualifier.
