Nigeria overcame a clutch of adversities to reach the 2026 FIFA World Cup play-off Final after a masterclass performance in extra time, which condemned Gabon to a 4-1 defeat on Thursday in Morocco’s administrative capital, Rabat.
It was, for large swathes of the first semi-final, the Rumble In Rabat that was promised, but the three-time African champions, in search of a seventh FIFA World Cup ticket, turned the game on its head in extra time and ensured the Gabonese will continue the search for a first-ever FIFA World Cup ticket in another four years.
Both teams filed onto the turf of the glamorous Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay El Hassan with palpable determination, but the Eagles had created two opportunities within the first four minutes, with stand-in captain Wilfred Ndidi’s free-kick going a little above the sticks and Akor Adams’ shot as the ball fell to him in the box failing to threaten Loyce Mbaba.
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In the 11th minute, Alex Iwobi, winning his 90th cap, saw his shot rise a little too high, and four minutes later, Mbaba and his guardsmen thwarted another Nigerian attack propelled by Bright Osayi-Samuel.
Within five minutes, Victor Osimhen narrowly missed the target three times, but would not relent, and actually thought he had put Nigeria ahead when South African referee Tom Abongile stopped play to converse with the Video Assistant Referee on whether his headed ball had gone past the line. A goal was not given in the end.
In the second half, the Panthers became more aggressive, and the game flowed back and forth. Abongile actually stopped play for a possible penalty against Nigeria, but he did not give it in the end.
In the 78th minute, Adams was on the alert to intercept a pass by defender Aaron Ondele to goalkeeper Mbaba, keep his cool, and slot into the empty net to put Nigeria ahead.
However, with one minute left in regulation time, Mario Lemina latched onto a headed ball by Osayi-Samuel and beat goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali with a fierce shot to the latter’s right.
Osimhen was on the breakaway after a pass out of defence by Simon Moses in the last minute of added time, but saw his shot beat both the goalkeeper and the goalpost.
Instead of being discouraged, Nigeria became more determined, and seven minutes into the first half of extra time, Ndidi grabbed the ball in the middle, proceeded gracefully, and found Chidera Ejuke, who sliced the ball past Mbaba for Nigeria’s second.
Just two minutes later, it was over as a contest, as the magnificent Benjamin Fredericks, launching an onslaught from his defensive position, carefully threaded his pass for Osimhen to score his 30th senior goal for Nigeria in his 45th game.
President of NFF, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, remarked at the end: “We are happy with the result. The players rose stoutly to the occasion and made Nigeria proud with a solid performance. No doubt, they have that grit, guts, and winning mentality to conquer whoever turns out to be the opposition in Sunday’s Final.”
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