November 13, (THEWILL) — Nigeria booked their place in the African Playoffs final for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after defeating Gabon 4-1 following extra time on Thursday evening. The match took place at the Moulay Al Hassan stadium in Rabat, Morocco, with the Super Eagles producing a dominant performance.
The opening 90 minutes saw Nigeria control possession through midfielder Wilfred Ndidi, though clear opportunities remained limited. Victor Osimhen missed an early headed chance in the 17th minute before forcing a save from goalkeeper Loyce Mbaba four minutes later. Akor Adams broke the deadlock in the 78th minute after intercepting a misplaced pass, but Mario Lemina equalised for Gabon in the 89th minute to send the tie into extra time.
Nigeria overwhelmed their opponents during the additional 30 minutes. Chidera Ejuke opened his international account to restore the lead before Osimhen struck twice in the 102nd and 110th minutes. The Galatasaray forward now has 31 goals for his country, moving closer to Rashidi Yekini’s national record of 37.
The Super Eagles will meet either Cameroon or DR Congo in Sunday’s final. The winner will progress to the inter-confederation playoffs in Mexico during March 2026.
Gabon’s elimination ends their hopes of reaching a maiden World Cup. The Panthers will now turn their focus to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, which Morocco will host from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
