Nigeria’s Super Eagles produced a commanding extra-time performance to crush Gabon 4-1 and book a place in the final of the FIFA World Cup Africa playoffs, Soccernet.ng reports.
Victor Osimhen led the charge with a brace, while Akor Adams and Chidera Ejuke added the others as Nigeria powered past the Panthers in dramatic fashion.
It was a contest that swung from frustration to dominance.
Photo by Nsidibe Akpan Copyright: xxIMAGO
After Gabon cancelled out Nigeria’s opener late in regulation time, the Super Eagles came alive in extra time, scoring three unanswered goals to seal a famous victory. The result puts Nigeria one step away from the intercontinental playoff, where the final tickets for the World Cup will be decided next year.
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Osimhen, Adams and Ejuke deliver in extra-time show
Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle stuck with an attacking 4-4-2 formation, with Stanley Nwabali in goal and young Benjamin Fredrick partnering Calvin Bassey at the heart of defence.
Wilfred Ndidi and Alex Iwobi pulled the strings in midfield, flanked by Samuel Chukwueze and Ademola Lookman, while Sevilla’s Akor Adams joined Osimhen up front.
The Super Eagles dominated the first half with 68% possession and six shots on target compared to Gabon’s solitary effort, but wasteful finishing and inspired goalkeeping kept the score goalless.
Adams came close twice, first being denied by the Gabon goalkeeper and later setting up Osimhen for a header that drifted just wide. Osimhen also saw two more efforts saved as Nigeria piled on the pressure without reward.
After the break, Gabon started brighter and nearly won a penalty after a lengthy VAR check, but the referee waved play on.
Nigeria eventually regained control, and their persistence paid off when Adams punished a defensive lapse, intercepting a back pass, rounding the goalkeeper, and slotting into an empty net in the 80th minute.
Just when Nigeria thought the job was done, Gabon struck back through Mario Lemina, whose deflected shot beat Nwabali in the 89th minute. Osimhen then missed a golden chance to win it in stoppage time, firing wide after doing all the hard work to beat his marker.
Super Eagles’ composure and class shine through
With the score tied 1-1, extra time offered Nigeria a chance at redemption and they took it spectacularly.
Five minutes into the first period, Chidera Ejuke latched onto a through ball from Ndidi and coolly finished past the keeper to make it 2-1. It was his first goal for the Super Eagles and marked the first time two players from a Spanish club, Ejuke and Adams, had scored in the same match for Nigeria.
Moments later, Osimhen found the net after brilliant work from Fredrick, who charged from defence to set him up for a clinical low finish. The Galatasaray striker then capped the night with a stunning second goal in the closing minutes, trappong the ball with his chest, bulldozing his way past sevwral markers before blasting home to complete a resounding 4-1 win.
Nigeria will now face the winner of the Cameroon vs DR Congo semifinal in Sunday’s playoff final. Victory there would earn the Super Eagles a ticket to next year’s intercontinental playoff and move them a step closer to returning to football’s grandest stage.