Team Nigeria opened their West Africa Para Games campaign ruthlessly on Friday, thrashing Benin Republic 11–0 in amputee football as the hosts delivered a commanding performance in their first fixture of the seven-day tournament.

Ahmed Usman struck four times, Michael Joel netted a hat-trick, Ahize Daniel added three goals after coming on, and Ibrahim Ndako scored once as Nigeria overpowered their opponents in the 50-minute contest at the MKO Abiola Sports Arena.

Nigeria created the first chance through Usman, whose exchange with Joel almost produced an early breakthrough before Joel’s follow-up effort came back off the woodwork.

Moments later, a poor goal kick from the Benin goalkeeper fell straight to Usman, who reacted swiftly to fire the hosts into the lead.

Nigeria maintained its dominance with quick interchanges, and Joel doubled the advantage in the eleventh minute with a close-range finish.

Within 60 seconds, Joel turned provider, weaving through the defence before setting up Bethel Emmanuel for the third.

Joel completed his brace a minute later with a solo effort, and he secured his hat-trick in the twentieth minute after cutting in from the left to make it 5–0 at the break.

The second half resumed much as the first ended, with Nigeria piling pressure on the Benin defence. Usman grabbed his second goal in the 29minute before Ndako added another to stretch the advantage.

Substitute Daniel then made an immediate impact with Nigeria’s eighth, and he combined twice with Ndako in the 42nd and 43rd minutes to take the score into double figures while completing his own hat-trick.

Nigeria now turns its attention to Saturday’s meeting with Cameroon as the competition gathers momentum across Abeokuta’s sporting venues, including the MKO Abiola Sports Arena, Alake Sports Centre, and Oke Mosan.

The inaugural West Africa Zone A and B Para Games began on Friday with more than 700 athletes arriving in Ogun state for the regional multi-sport event.