Nigeria’s senior men’s national football team, the Super Eagles, delivered a commanding performance on Thursday, defeating Gabon 4–1 in extra time at the Stade Mohammed V in Rabat, Morocco, to move one step closer to qualifying for the 2026 Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup.
After an evenly contested first half that ended goalless, forward Akor Adams opened the scoring for Nigeria shortly after the break. Adams capitalised on a defensive error from Gabon’s backline, slotting the ball into the net to give the Super Eagles a well-deserved lead.
The Panthers of Gabon, however, found a late equaliser just four minutes before full-time, sending the match into extra time and momentarily unsettling the Nigerian supporters in the stadium.
Chidera Ejuke restored Nigeria’s advantage in the first period of extra time with a composed finish, confidently placing the ball beyond the Gabonese goalkeeper. Shortly after, Victor Osimhen, the reigning African Footballer of the Year and Napoli striker, extended the lead with a quick brace that sealed a convincing 4–1 victory.
Defenders Benjamin Frederick and Calvin Bassey were instrumental at the back, ensuring that Gabon’s late attacking efforts were effectively neutralised. Their discipline and organisation helped the team maintain control of the match through the closing stages.
The result pushes Nigeria into the final phase of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification playoffs. The next round will determine whether the Super Eagles secure their spot in the global football tournament to be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Okay News reports that Nigeria’s latest win provides a significant morale boost for both the players and fans as the nation seeks a return to the world football stage after missing the 2022 edition in Qatar.
