Nigeria Super Eagles delivered an extra-time magical football to book the final spot at the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup Playoffs in Morocco with a resounding 3-1 win over Panthers of Gabon at the Moulay Hassan Stadium, Rabat Morocco, Thursday evening, platinumnewsng.com is reporting
Super Eagles dominated play in the first half and had series of chances to score against their opponents in the first half, but the front line was wasteful.
The second half began with Gabon taking the initiative and could have been rewarded with a penalty in the 57th minute after there was an adjudged pulling of a Gabonese forward. After a long time of Video Assistant Referee consultation, the penalty was not given, and a corner kick in return was awarded to the Gabonese.
Akor Adams broke the deadlock in the 78th minute of the game — the 25-year-old Sevilla forward stole a ball after a horrendous backpass by a Gabonese defender; he reached on towards the 18-yard-box and delivered his ball into. The back of the net, his second for the country.
Super Eagles had a couple of changes and held on to the 89th minute before Gabon equalised courtesy of a Mario Lemina’s deflected effort that beat Stanley Nwabali to his goal.
Nigeria came close to scoring again in the 90th+2 minutes, but Osimhen’s effort went inches wide of the goal, despite beating out goalkeeper Loyce Mbaba —that was a painful miss
Osimhen again got the most glorious chance of the game when he was put through on goal in the 90+10 minutes —he raced down the goal, had the goalkeeper to beat, but blasted off his ball amazingly for a goal kick.
The two teams went into extra time of 30 minutes and Nigeria had the time to punish their opponents mercilessly.
Substitute Chidera Ejuke got Nigeria back in front after sealing off a sumptuous supply by Wilfred Ndidi in the 98th minute.
Ejuke had been sent in from the bench and got on the score sheet to send Nigeria back in control. It was a great vision, unmatched composure, and a clinical pass from Wilfred Ndidi, perfectly executed by Chidera Ejuke an iconic and historic goal — his first goal for the country
Victor Osimhen redeemed himself with a clinical finish in the 102nd minute of the game. Benjamin Fredrick stole a ball from an attacking Gabonese, danced his way down Gabon’s box in the midst of 5 players and sent a fine pass down the right for Victor Osimhen who made no error in finishing off brilliantly for Nigeria’s third.
Osimhen, once again, in the 110th minute, increased the tally. A long free kick by Chidozie Awaziem found a towering Osimhen who chested down, brought down the ball with his lap and drove through three yellow and blue jerseys to slot home the fourth for Nigeria, his second for the day and his 31st in the Green-White-Green jersey.
With the win, Nigeria will take on either Cameroon or the Democratic Republic of Congo in the November 16 final
Photos: Pooja