Nigeria One Match Away From World Cup Playoff Glory After Dramatic 4–1 Win Over Gabon
Nigeria One Match Away From World Cup Playoff Glory After Dramatic 4–1 Win Over Gabon
Nigeria’s hopes of reaching the 2026 FIFA World Cup remain firmly alive after the Super Eagles produced a sensational 4–1 extra-time victory over Gabon to advance to the final of the CAF World Cup playoff series.
The thrilling encounter, which kept fans on edge from start to finish, saw Nigeria dig deep to overturn early pressure from the Gabonese side before running riot in extra time. The win booked Nigeria a place in Sunday’s high-stakes, winner-takes-all playoff final against DR Congo.
Sunday’s clash will determine whether Nigeria progresses to the inter-confederation playoffs — the final pathway to securing a World Cup ticket.
If Nigeria defeats DR Congo, the Super Eagles will move into the global playoff round scheduled for March 2026, where they will face teams from other continents for one of the remaining qualification slots. Depending on their ranking, Nigeria may need to play either one more match or two to secure their place at the 48-team World Cup.
For now, all eyes are on Sunday as Nigeria prepares for one of the most important fixtures in recent years — a decisive showdown that could bring them within touching distance of the world’s biggest football stage.
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