Nigeria’s Super Eagles kept their 2026 FIFA World Cup hopes alive with a commanding 4–1 extra-time victory over Gabon in a high-stakes CAF play-off semi-final on Thursday, November 13. The match, held at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat, saw Victor Osimhen deliver a brace in extra time after a tense 90 minutes ended in a 1–1 draw.
The game began cautiously, with both sides struggling to create clear chances in the first half. Nigeria gradually asserted control, but it wasn’t until the 77th minute that Akor Adams broke the deadlock. Capitalizing on a defensive error by Gabon’s Aaron Appindangoye, Adams rounded the goalkeeper to slot home the opener.
Just as Nigeria looked poised to close out the match, Gabon’s Mario Lemina equalized in the 89th minute with a deflected strike that sent the game into extra time. The late goal stunned the Super Eagles, who had dominated much of the second half.
However, Nigeria responded with renewed intensity. Chidera Ejuke restored the lead with a composed finish early in extra time, before Osimhen—who had missed a golden opportunity in stoppage time—redeemed himself with two well-taken goals that sealed the win.
The result sends Nigeria into Sunday’s CAF play-off final, where they will face the winner of the Cameroon vs. DR Congo semi-final. A victory in that match would earn the Super Eagles a spot in the six-team inter-confederation play-off tournament scheduled for March 2026 in Mexico, with one final World Cup berth up for grabs.
Despite pre-match disruptions—including a brief training boycott by players over unpaid allowances—the Super Eagles delivered a performance that reaffirmed their status as one of Africa’s football powerhouses. Osimhen, who now has eight goals in the qualifying campaign, was named Man of the Match.
Nigeria, who missed out on the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, are determined to return to the global stage. With momentum on their side and key players hitting form, the Super Eagles are just one win away from taking the next step toward that goal.
