"Victor Osimhen scored an extra-time brace and Chidera Ejuke added a goal to give Nigeria a 4-1 win over Gabon in the CAF World Cup playoff semifinals in Rabat, Morocco, on Thursday. Nigeria, who finished in second place in their group during CAF qualifying and were forced into the playoff route to reach the World Cup, will face the winner of Thursday's second match between Congo DR and Cameroon to clinch a spot in the six-team inter-confederation playoff in March."
"With time running out on Gabon, Mario Lemina's shot from the left side of the penalty area deflected off a Nigerian defender and beat keeper Stanley Nwabali at his near post to level the score. Nigeria star Osimhen missed two golden chances to seal the win for the Super Eagles in second-half added time as the game went to extra time where Osimhen and Ejuke put their team through with a pair of well-taken goals."
"The Super Eagles preparation for Thursday's semifinal had been interrupted by a standoff between players and the Nigerian federation over unpaid bonuses. However, that was resolved on Wednesday, with team captain William Troost-Ekong posting on social media: "We are together and, as before, focused on the games ahead!" Nigeria missed out on the 2022 World Cup after losing to Ghana in that cycle's qualification playoff. Gabon has never qualified for a World Cup final."
Victor Osimhen scored twice in extra time and Chidera Ejuke added another goal as Nigeria defeated Gabon 4-1 in the CAF World Cup playoff semifinal in Rabat. Akor Adams opened the scoring late in the second half after a wayward Gabon pass, and Mario Lemina equalized with a deflected shot. Osimhen missed two late chances before extra time, then converted twice in extra time while Ejuke also scored. Nigeria finished second in their qualifying group and now faces the winner of Congo DR v Cameroon for a spot in the inter-confederation playoff. Preparations were briefly disrupted by an unpaid-bonus standoff that was resolved before the match.
Read at ESPN
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]