Rampant team Nigeria crush Benin 11–0 in para games opener

Team Nigeria began their West Africa Para Games campaign in emphatic fashion on Friday, dispatching Benin Republic 11–0 in amputee football to set a dominant tone for the seven-day competition, Sport360NG reports.

Ahmed Usman led the scoring with four goals, Michael Joel struck a hat-trick, substitute Ahize Daniel added three, and Ibrahim Ndako contributed one as the hosts overwhelmed their West African rivals in a one-sided contest at the MKO Abiola Sports Arena in Abeokuta.

Nigeria threatened early when Usman combined with Joel, whose effort rattled the woodwork. A defensive error from the Benin goalkeeper moments later gifted Usman the opener, and the floodgates soon followed. Joel doubled the advantage in the 11th minute before turning provider almost immediately, slipping a pass to Bethel Emmanuel for Nigeria’s third.

Joel added his second and third goals in quick succession, sealing his hat-trick before halftime and sending Nigeria into the break with a commanding 5–0 lead.

The momentum carried into the second half as Usman netted again in the 29th minute. Ndako extended the advantage shortly after, before Daniel came off the bench to score Nigeria’s eighth. Daniel then linked twice with Ndako in the 42nd and 43rd minutes, completing his own treble and pushing the tally into double figures.

With the hosts cruising, attention now shifts to Saturday’s clash against Cameroon as the competition intensifies across multiple venues, including the MKO Abiola Sports Arena, Alake Sports Centre, and Oke Mosan.

The inaugural West Africa Zone A and B Para Games officially commenced on Friday, welcoming more than 700 athletes to Ogun State for the regional multi-sport event.