On Thursday at Stade Mohammed V in Rabat, Morocco, Victor Osimhen scored twice as the Super Eagles defeated the Panthers of Gabon 4-1 in extra time to move on to the next round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Early in the second half, after a goalless first half, Akor Adams broke the impasse by taking advantage of a player’s mistake to give Nigeria the lead.
But four minutes before the game’s conclusion, Gabon equalised, sending it into extra time.
With a calm finish, Chidera Ejuke gave Nigeria the lead again, and Osimhen doubled the lead to seal the victory.
Gabon’s late attempts were futile due to the Super Eagles’ strong defensive performance, which was spearheaded by Calvin Bassey and Benjamin Frederick.
Nigeria’s victory puts them one step closer to qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup; their fate will be decided in the last playoff round.
Nigeria’s 4-0 victory over the Benin Republic, which featured an incredible hat-trick from Victor Osimhen, helped them secure a place among the best runners-up in the African qualifiers.
In contrast, Gabon earned a spot in the playoffs by finishing second in Group F behind the Ivory Coast.
On November 16, Nigeria will play either Cameroon or the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The winner of that match will advance to the intercontinental playoff with hopes of earning a spot in the World Cup.