In a thrilling encounter in Rabat, Morocco, Nigeria emerged victorious over Gabon with a 4-1 extra-time win, keeping their 2026 World Cup hopes alive. The match, which had ended 1-1 after 90 minutes, saw dramatic late goals from Chidera Ejuke and Victor Osimhen in the first period of added time.

Osimhen’s Redemption and Clinical Finishing

Victor Osimhen, who had earlier squandered a golden opportunity in the dying seconds of regulation time, redeemed himself with a powerful performance in extra time. His first goal came in the 95th minute, ripping off his face mask and shirt in celebration, a release of the tension after his earlier missed chance. Osimhen then sealed the win for the Super Eagles with a second goal in the second half of extra time, ensuring Nigeria’s progression to the final of Africa’s World Cup play-offs.

Nigeria Dominates Before Gabon’s Late Equalizer

Nigeria, playing under the leadership of coach Eric Chelle, appeared to be on course for a regulation-time victory after Akor Adams capitalized on a poor back-pass to give his team the lead in the 78th minute. However, Gabon leveled the score in the 89th minute with a deflected shot from Mario Lemina, sending the match into extra time.

Nigeria’s Road to the Playoff Final

The win extended Nigeria’s unbeaten run under coach Chelle, who took over as the first non-Nigerian African coach of the Super Eagles earlier this year. Under Chelle, Nigeria’s World Cup qualification campaign has seen a dramatic turnaround, with the team overcoming various challenges, including changes in management and internal disputes over unpaid allowances and match bonuses.

The victory means Nigeria will now face DR Congo in the final playoff match, following DR Congo’s 1-0 win over Cameroon in the other semi-final. The winner of this final will advance to the intercontinental qualifiers in March, which will determine the final two teams for the 2026 World Cup.

Super Eagles’ Solid Defense and VAR Drama

Throughout the match, Nigeria’s defense stood firm, with 20-year-old Benjamin Fredrick putting in a standout performance at the heart of the defense, keeping Gabon’s star players, including Denis Bouanga and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, largely subdued. Gabon had a penalty appeal early in the second half when Bright Osayi-Samuel was alleged to have pulled Aaron Appindangoye’s shirt. However, after a lengthy VAR review, the appeal was turned down.

The Road Ahead for Nigeria

This victory was a vital step for the Super Eagles, who missed out on the 2022 World Cup and are now battling for a place in the expanded 48-team tournament. Despite the setbacks earlier in the campaign, including a nail-biting qualification process and internal disputes, the team’s resilience has kept them on track for qualification. With the final playoff against DR Congo fast approaching, the stakes couldn’t be higher for Nigeria’s quest for World Cup glory.