Goals in either half from Kano Pillars midfielder Rabiu Ali and Lobi Stars forward Kingsley Eduwo ensured the Eagles overturned a first-leg defeat, securing a 2-1 aggregate win to qualify for the tournament in Kenya.

Perhaps it would have been a different outcome had Benin Republic converted a 65th-minute penalty kick, after Mama Seibou saw his effort brilliantly saved by goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa.

Nigeria coach Salisu Yusuf made four changes to his line-up, introducing Emmanuel Ariwachukwu, Samuel Mathias, Alhassan Ibrahim and Stephen Odey.

It proved to be a smart choice when Alhassan picked out Ali unmarked in a sweeping attacking move, the latter applying the finishing touch to put Nigeria ahead in the 22nd minute.

Eduwo had twice come close to netting a maiden international goal for Nigeria in the first half, both efforts resulting in nothing, but the forward eventually found some joy two minutes after the restart when he flung himself at Osas Okoro's cross to head past the Benin goalkeeper.

Then Stephen Eze was adjudged to have handled a goal-bound strike and the referee pointed to the spot. Seibou failed to replicate his penalty-scoring feat from six days ago in Cotonou, Ezenwa guessing the right way to produce a big save which kept Nigeria in the game.