As Nigeria take on Gabon in the 2026 World Cup African playoffs on Thursday (today), ABIODUN ADEWALE writes on how the match-up between Victor Osimhen and Gabonese defenders, as well as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang against Nigerian defenders, will shape the tie
It is going to be all or nothing when Nigeria and Gabon face off in one of the semi-finals of the 2026 World Cup African playoffs at the Complexe Sportif Prince Heritier Moulay Al Hassan in Rabat, Morocco, on Thursday (today).
Nigeria, Gabon, DR Congo, and Cameroon are the four African countries vying for a potential spot at the World Cup scheduled for the USA, Canada, and Mexico. The winners of the two semi-finals will face off in the final on Sunday, and the eventual winner proceeds to the intercontinental playoffs by March 2026.
For Nigeria and Gabon, today’s encounter will be their 10th meeting.
Nigeria have been victorious in five of nine previous encounters with Gabon, while three of the nine matches have ended in draws.
Gabon’s only triumph – a 2-1 win in a World Cup qualifier on 25th June 1989 – ultimately cost Nigeria a ticket to Italia ’90 as the Eagles failed to secure the draw needed against Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions in Yaounde on the final day of the series.
Having been distracted by a training boycott over disputed bonuses, the odds are stacked against the Super Eagles to avoid a second consecutive miss at the World Cup.
