Nigeria delivered a statement performance on Thursday night in Rabat, powering past Gabon with a commanding 4–1 victory after extra time to secure their spot in the CAF playoff final. The Super Eagles now move within touching distance of the intercontinental playoff, awaiting the winner between DR Congo and Cameroon.
The matchup began cagey and cautious, but it sparked to life in the 78th minute when Akor Adams pounced on a disastrous Gabonese back pass. With ice in his veins, Adams slotted the ball into the net, putting Nigeria 1–0 up and tilting momentum firmly their way.
But football loves drama. With just one minute left on the clock, Gabon clawed their way back. Mario Lemina unleashed a strike that took a wicked deflection, wrong-footing the goalkeeper and leveling the game at 1–1. The late equalizer sent both sides into extra time, nerves high and energy low — but Nigeria refused to blink.
From the moment extra time kicked off, the Super Eagles took full command of the narrative. Chidera Ejuke fired Nigeria back into the lead in the 97th minute after a sharp exchange with Wilfred Ndidi, restoring belief and urgency. Then came the Victor Osimhen show.
The Napoli forward put on a clinic, ripping apart Gabon’s defense with two decisive goals in the first period of extra time. His first — a precise angled finish in the 102nd minute — pushed Nigeria ahead 3–1. His second, arriving in the 110th minute, sealed the night and slammed the door shut on Gabon’s hopes of a comeback.
Nigeria’s bench also played its part. Adams made way for Onyeka in the 83rd minute to stabilize the midfield, while Awaziem and Ekong came on during extra time to reinforce the backline and protect the lead. The tactical tweaks worked to perfection as Gabon struggled to find any meaningful breakthrough.
Despite making several changes of their own, Gabon could not crack Nigeria’s defensive wall nor wrest back control of the match. The Super Eagles kept their composure, dictated the pace, and finished with authority.
With this emphatic win, Nigeria stands just one step away from the intercontinental playoff — and a potential route to the World Cup. All attention now shifts to the outcome of the DR Congo vs Cameroon clash, which will determine their next opponent in the decisive playoff final.