Victor Osimhen scored twice in extra time as Nigeria beat Gabon 4-1 in a CAF 2026 World Cup playoff semifinal on Thursday to set up a final against the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Osimhen, the 2023 African Player of the Year, had missed a late chance in regular time when he fired wide with only goalkeeper Loyce Mbaba to beat, but atoned in extra time. He converted on 102 minutes, firing across Mbaba into the far corner after a Benjamin Fredrick assist, and struck again on 110 minutes, controlling a long pass before slotting another finish past the keeper.
The tie had been level at 1-1 after full time. Akor Adams put Nigeria ahead on 78 minutes when he intercepted a misplaced Gabon pass, rounded Mbaba and scored. Mario Lemina equalised for Gabon in the 89th minute via a deflected shot that beat Nigeria goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali. Nigeria then regained the lead when substitute Chidera Ejuke scored his first goal for the Super Eagles after 97 minutes, before Osimhen sealed the win in extra time.
Earlier in the match Osimhen had been lively in the first half, heading wide twice and seeing a handball appeal go to VAR and be dismissed. There was another VAR review around the hour mark when Nigeria full-back Bright Osayi-Samuel was accused of pulling Aaron Appindangoye’s shirt in the box; the referee turned down Gabon’s penalty appeals after a lengthy review.
In the other semifinal in Rabat, captain Chancel Mbemba was the decisive figure, scoring in the first minute of added time as DRC beat eight-time World Cup qualifiers Cameroon 1-0 in torrential rain. The match was tight and cagey, with few clear chances; Bryan Mbeumo went close for Cameroon while veteran Cedric Bakambu was denied by goalkeeper Andre Onana.
Nigeria and DRC will meet on Sunday in the Moroccan capital, with the winner advancing to a six-nation FIFA intercontinental playoff tournament in March. The African playoff involved the best four group runners-up; the winners of the two playoff finals will earn places at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Other teams already confirmed for the intercontinental playoffs include Bolivia and New Caledonia from their respective confederations. Asia will be represented by either Iraq or the United Arab Emirates, and two teams will qualify from the Central America/Caribbean region. European teams are excluded from this route.
Nine African nations sealed automatic qualification as group winners: Algeria, Cape Verde, Egypt, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia. Nigeria will be chasing a seventh World Cup appearance, while DRC seek a second after their 1974 participation when they were known as Zaire.
