Super Eagles Thrash Gabon 4–1 in World Cup Playoff Thriller (AET)

The Super Eagles of Nigeria kept their 2026 FIFA World Cup dream alive in emphatic fashion, defeating the Panthers of Gabon 4–1 after extra time in a tense CAF Playoff semi-final on Thursday night in Rabat, Morocco.

The opening 45 minutes was a cagey affair, as both sides struggled to find clear openings. Nigeria dominated possession and looked the more dangerous team, with Victor Osimhen leading the line and Moses Simon causing problems down the flank. Yet, despite several half-chances, the first half ended goalless, leaving the Super Eagles visibly frustrated.

The breakthrough finally came in the 78th minute, when Sevilla forward Akor Adams pounced on a defensive blunder from the Gabonese backline. A poor back pass allowed Adams to round goalkeeper Loyce Mbaba and calmly slot into an empty net, giving Nigeria a crucial 1–0 lead.

However, the joy was short-lived. With just a minute left in regular time, Gabon’s Mario Lemina struck a dramatic equaliser. His curling shot from distance took a wicked deflection, wrong-footing goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali and finding the net in the 89th minute, which forced the match into extra time.

Nigeria nearly restored their lead in stoppage time when Osimhen missed a glorious one-on-one chance, firing narrowly wide as it was a moment that left fans holding their breath as the referee’s whistle signaled full-time.

Extra Time Dominance

The extra period was a different story entirely. Nigeria’s superior fitness and attacking firepower overwhelmed the Panthers.

In the 97th minute, substitute Chidera Ejuke made an instant impact, finishing beautifully into the bottom corner after a slick through ball from Wilfred Ndidi, putting the Super Eagles 2–1 up.

Barely five minutes later, Victor Osimhen redeemed himself for his earlier miss. In the 102nd minute, he fired home from a tight angle as he made it 3–1, sending the Nigerian bench into wild celebrations.

Osimhen wasn’t done yet. He completed his brace in the 110th minute, controlling a long ball with precision before racing into the box and drilling home a superb finish to seal a commanding 4–1 victory for Nigeria.

The extra-time brilliance cemented Nigeria’s place in the CAF World Cup Playoff final, where they will face the winner between Cameroon and DR Congo on Sunday.

With Osimhen back in form and confidence soaring through the squad, the Super Eagles will now look to finish the job and secure their ticket to the 2026 FIFA inter continental World Cup Playoff in March Next Year.