The Super Eagles will face DR Congo in a high-stakes final after a dramatic extra-time victory, while Gabon’s veteran star sees his last likely chance at a World Cup vanish.
RABAT, Morocco – In a night of high drama and emotional extremes, Nigeria’s Super Eagles soared into the final of the African World Cup playoffs, defeating Gabon 4-1 after extra time on Sunday. The victory sets up a climactic showdown with the Democratic Republic of Congo, but it also spelled the probable end of Gabonese star Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s lifelong dream of playing on the World Cup stage.
The match was a rollercoaster for the Nigerian team and their fans. After a tense 1-1 deadlock in regulation time, it was the heroics of star striker Victor Osimhen that ultimately sealed the deal, with his two extra-time goals powering the Super Eagles to victory.
The game seemed to be slipping away from Nigeria when Gabon’s Mario Lemina—ironically, Osimhen’s teammate at club side Galatasaray—saw his 89th-minute shot take a cruel deflection to steal a dramatic equalizer. The heartbreak was compounded moments later when Osimhen himself missed a golden opportunity to win the game, firing wide with only the goalkeeper to beat in stoppage time.
However, the Super Eagles regrouped magnificently in extra time. Substitute Chidera Ejuke lifted the Nigerian spirits, scoring his first-ever international goal in the 97th minute to restore the lead. Osimhen then redeemed his earlier miss, firing home in the 102nd minute to extend the advantage before completing his brace with a powerful strike in the 109th minute, sealing a comprehensive 4-1 win.
For Gabon’s iconic forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, the loss was particularly devastating. At 35, the 2015 African Footballer of the Year has now likely seen his last realistic chance to grace a World Cup finals disappear.
In the other semi-final, the Democratic Republic of Congo secured their place in the final with a nail-biting, last-gasp 1-0 victory over Cameroon. Captain Chancel Mbemba was the hero, snatching the winning goal in the 90th minute to break Cameroonian hearts.
The stage is now set for a winner-takes-all final between Nigeria and DR Congo this Sunday in Rabat. The victor will earn the right to represent Africa at the intercontinental playoffs in Mexico next March, where the final two spots for the expanded 48-team 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada will be decided.
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