Online Reporter
NIGERIA emerged as 4-1 winners over Gabon in the 2026 FIFA World Cup African -lay-offs semi-final football match after extra-time at the Moulay Al Hassan in Rabat, Morocco, on Thursday evening.
The emphatic victory saw the Super Eagles advance to the African playoffs final against the DR Congo tomorrow.
The DR Congo edged Cameroon 1-0 in the other semi-final on Thursday night.
The winner of the final will advance to the inter-confederation play-offs scheduled to be hosted by Mexico in March 2026.
Gabon, on the other hand, saw their dream of qualifying for the World Cup for the first time fade away.
The Panthers will now turn their attention to the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations finals scheduled to be hosted by Morocco between December 21, 2025 and January 18, 2026.
The Super Eagles enjoyed most of the ball possession with Wilfred Ndidi dominating the midfield battle.
Nigeria’s star striker, Victor Osimhen, was presented with a good chance to break the deadlock in the 17th minute, but his header went wide of the target.
Chances were falling for Osimhen and he managed to keep his header on target in the 21st minute, but goalkeeper Loyce Mbaba pulled off a smart save to deny the Galatasaray superstar.
The score was 0-0 at the interval, following a first-half dominated by Nigeria without scoring.
The Super Eagles continued to exert pressure on the Panthers after the restart and their pressure finally paid off in the 78th minute. Akor Adams intercepted a poor pass and he went on to beat Mbaba to hand Nigeria what looked like a late winning goal.
However, Mario Lemina had other ideas as he hit the back of the net to level matters in the 89th minute, much to the delight of the Gabonese fans.
The late goal by the Galatasaray midfielder ensured that the game ended in a draw in regulation time and extra-time followed.
An extra-time which was dominated by the Super Eagles followed as Chidera Ejuke netted his first-ever international goal for Nigeria to make it 2-1 before Osimhen scored his 30th international goal to extend Nigeria’s well-deserved lead in the 102nd minute.
Osimhen, who is chasing Rashidi Yekini’s record (37 goals) as Nigeria’s all-time top scorer, scored again in the 110th minute.
The Ultimate Strikers Academy product beat Mbaba with another hard and low shot, and his 31st international goal sealed Nigeria’s emphatic 4-1 win over Gabon.
Meanwhile, the DR Congo kept their 2026 World Cup hopes alive after they scored a late winner to beat Cameroon 1-0 in the other play-off semifinal at the Al Barid Stadium in Rabat on Thursday night.
Leopards skipper Chancel Mbemba popped up in the first minute of stoppage-time to settle the contest and dash the Indomitable Lions’ dream of reaching the global show-piece for a second consecutive edition.
Cameroon had only won two of their last five qualifiers to come up short in Group D as they finished four points behind Cape Verde in second place.
DR Congo closed out their Group B campaign with back-to-back wins to see Senegal take top spot by just two points.
Sebastien Desabre’s side edged the possession stakes in the first-half and they managed slightly more attempts at goal, with the first chance of the game falling to Charles Pickel, who steered his header wide of the left post on 12 minutes.
But Karl Etta Eyong should have put the Indomitable Lions ahead 11 minutes later when he received the ball inside the box from a free-kick inside and only succeeded in firing over from close range.
Theo Bongonda also failed to keep his shot down at the other end on 31 minutes after a burst of speed took him past a defender before he let loose from the edge of the area and saw the ball fly over the crossbar.
It remained goalless at the break and Lionel Mpasi was called into action for the first time on 52 minutes to save a long-range effort from Vincent Aboubakar, who was introduced off the bench at the start of the second half. — AFP Sport.
