Nigeria 4-1 Gabon: Osimhen scores twice, enters play-off final
Nigeria beat Gabon 4-1 after extra time: Akor Adams opened the scoring, Lemina equalized in 89 minutes, Ejuke restored the advantage before Osimhen scored a double. Opponent: Congo DR.
Victor Osimhen handled the pressure with the form of a big star. After Nigeria equalized in the 89th minute and he missed a chance in the last second of the 12 minutes of added time, the striker scored twice in extra time as Nigeria beat Gabon 4-1, booking a ticket to the final of the African play-off for a place in the 2026 World Cup.
The pivotal moment: from a missed shot to a decisive double
After a tense second half, Akor Adams pounced on a mistake from Aaron Appindangoye to round goalkeeper Loyce Mbaba to open the scoring with less than 15 minutes remaining. But in the 89th minute, Gabon equalised: Mario Lemina's shot deflected off Bright Osayi-Samuel, leaving Stanley Nwabali helpless, forcing the game into extra time.
Osimhen almost finished the game in the last second of the 12 minutes of added time with a one-on-one situation but his shot went wide. In extra time, Nigeria was transformed: Chidera Ejuke put the home team ahead, then Osimhen appeared at the right time with two goals to seal a 4-1 victory.
Pace and Pace: Nigeria navigates chaos with control
Before the kick-off, the team faced a bonus dispute with the Federation, a story that was mentioned right before the match day. On the field, Nigeria's first half was a familiar image at its best: dominating ball control, pressing high, creating many opportunities but facing an excellent performance from goalkeeper Mbaba.
In the second half, the loss of physical strength caused the midfield connection to break down, the passes were misplaced continuously and Gabon dominated. Even after Akor Adams opened the scoring, the disunity was still present and the loss came as an inevitable consequence when Ejuke failed to keep up with Lemina.
Extra time saw a return of calm: Wilfred Ndidi split the Gabon midfield with a through ball for Ejuke to finish neatly, opening the way for Osimhen to explode with pace, positioning and killer instinct.
Skip practice? Never!
Nigeria are used to trouble off the pitch, but for three-quarters of the match against Gabon they put aside all the noise to play like an organised team: controlling, taking the initiative, then accelerating at the right moment in extra time.
Osimhen – the fulcrum of results
More than just goals, Osimhen brings energy, spirit and determination to propel the team forward. The numbers below show his impact on results:
| Category | Numbers |
|---|---|
| World Cup Qualifiers (with Osimhen) | 14 matches: Nigeria won 9, lost 1 |
| When Osimhen scored in World Cup qualifiers | Undefeated (6 wins, 2 draws) |
| Combine CAN and qualifiers (with Osimhen) | 22 matches: Won 15 – Drawn 4 – Lost 3 |
| When Osimhen scores or assists | Undefeated (13 wins – 3 draws) |
| Distance to Rashidi Yekini's record | 7 goals behind; need 8 goals to break the record |
Defense and Ndidi: the foundation of victory
At the last AFCON, Nigeria progressed thanks to the solidity of William Troost-Ekong, Semi Ajayi and Calvin Bassey. Against Gabon, although they still conceded, the defensive system showed its worth: the task of keeping Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Lemina at bay was done almost perfectly.
Calvin Bassey partnered young talent Benjamin Frederick at centre-back to form a powerful, fast duo; Frederick was particularly impressive when tracking Aubameyang. On the left, Zaidu Sanusi returned to bring stability and support across the flanks – something Nigeria had previously lacked.
Wilfred Ndidi played a game as complete as he has rarely played in recent times: receiving an early yellow card but not flinching, passing the ball confidently, reading situations well and promptly filling gaps.
VAR and fragile moments
Nigeria had a heart-stopping moment when VAR checked a shirt-pulling incident by Osayi-Samuel in the box. Referee Tom Abongile determined there was no penalty. Apart from that incident, Gabon rarely created any real danger.
Impact and next steps
With this victory, Nigeria will enter the final of the African play-offs and will meet Congo DR – who just beat Cameroon 1-0 – tomorrow morning. To advance to the intercontinental play-offs, they need to continue their solid defense and Osimhen to maintain his current output of goals and assists.
