The Super Eagles came alive in extra time to seal a 4–1 win over Gabon in Rabat, booking progress in the 2026 FIFA World Cup playoffs after a contest that had everything, Footynaija.com reports.
Nigeria dominated from start to finish, but it took 78 minutes and persistence to finally find the breakthrough. Akor Adams pounced on a disastrous Gabon back pass, rounded the goalkeeper, and rolled the ball into the net to put Eric Chelle’s side in front.
Yet, just as the Super Eagles looked to be seeing it out, Gabon levelled late on through a deflected Lemina strike that wrong-footed Bright Osayi-Samuel, sending the game into extra time at 1–1.
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The opening half had been a battle of nerves and missed chances. Nigeria, led by Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman, pressed high and created several openings, recording nine shots to Gabon’s one by the interval.
Wilfred Ndidi was booked early in a scrappy start that saw three fouls in as many minutes, while Nwabali had to recover quickly after a misplaced pass almost gifted Gabon a goal from distance. Young Benjamin Fredrick justified his inclusion ahead of captain William Troost-Ekong with a composed showing at the back, reading the game confidently in only his second senior start.
After the break, the tension deepened. Tom Abongile of South Africa, already a talking point before kick-off, came under more scrutiny when he opted for a VAR check on a tangle between Bright Osayi-Samuel and a Gabon forward inside the box. He eventually waved play on but bizarrely awarded a corner instead of a throw-in, a decision that drew loud protests from Nigerians.
The Super Eagles continued to press, with Alex Iwobi trying to orchestrate play but struggling for consistency, while Lookman and Chukwueze were replaced by Chidera Ejuke and Moses Simon to inject more energy. The substitutions paid off eventually, though not before Nwabali survived another scare when his clearance was charged down by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
In extra time, Chidera Ejuke produced a moment of calm and precision in the 97th minute. Ndidi’s clever through pass found him, and he slotted past the Gabon keeper to restore Nigeria’s lead.
Just four minutes later, Osimhen finally got his reward. A strong recovery from midfield led to a quick exchange, and the Galatasaray striker drilled home from close range to make it 3–1.
Osimhen wasn’t done. In the 109th minute, the 26-year-old produced one of the goals of the campaign, wrestling off about four defenders before squeezing the ball home from an almost impossible angle—his second of the night and Nigeria’s fourth.
The scoreline stayed 4–1 as Chelle’s men closed out the match comfortably. With the win, the Super Eagles have booked their spot in the African playoff final for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and now face the winner of Cameroon vs Democratic Republic of the Congo this Sunday.
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