” Start a free trial World Cup Teams Scores & Schedule • • • 2026 World Cup Countdown President Trump’s Threats Exorbitant Parking Prices Latest Intel Ranking Home Jerseys Which Countries Qualified? Ticketing Fiasco How Nigeria beat Gabon to progress in World Cup 2026 qualifying thanks to three extra-time goals Nigeria ran out 4-1 winners against Gabon in Rabat after drawing 1-1 in normal time The Athletic Live Team and more November 13, 2025 at 11:45 PM GMT+1 Getty Images Ed Mackey Live Editor Nigeria 4-1 Gabon — result Nigeria have beaten Gabon 4-1 to advance to the play-off final of African qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. They needed extra time to make it through after Mario Lemina’s late deflected effort cancelled out Akor Adams’ opener in normal time. Substitute Chidera Ejuke restored Nigeria’s lead early in extra time and their advantage was hammered home by two clinical Victor Osimhen strikes. Osimhen could, however, have stopped us needing extra time but badly squandered a huge chance in the final minute of second-half stoppage time. Nigeria will face the winner of this evening’s other semi-final between DR Congo and Cameroon in Sunday’s final. The winner of that final will progress to the World Cup’s intercontinental play-offs in March. GO FURTHER Nigeria 4 Gabon 1: World Cup dream lives on, Osimhen’s miss (and goals) and VAR controversy November 13, 2025 at 8:40 PM GMT+1 Ed Mackey Live Editor What do Nigeria need to make the World Cup? The equation now is simple for Nigeria. They must win on Sunday, against whichever team wins this evening’s other semi-final between DR Congo and Cameroon, and that will grant them qualification for the inter-confederation play-offs. Nigeria would almost certainly be one of the seeded teams in those play-offs, so they would only need to win one more match — which would be against the winners of one of the play-off semi-finals. Victory in that match and Eric Chelle’s side will be heading to North America for the 2026 World Cup. Defeat on Sunday, or in March, will end their dreams of making next summer’s tournament. November 13, 2025 at 8:32 PM GMT+1 Jay Harris Staff Writer, Tottenham Hotspur Where were the Nigeria fans? Considering the importance of this game, the stadium was surprisingly empty before kick-off. It is difficult to make an exact estimate, but there cannot have been more than 2,500 fans when the teams emerged. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced the day before that supporters with tickets for AFCON could attend this game and Cameroon vs DR Congo for free. It was clearly an attempt by CAF to convince local Moroccans to come to the Moulay El Hassan Stadium to boost crowd numbers, but it did not have much of an impact. Nigeria fans finally emerged just after that incident in the 59th minute. They were stationed in the upper tier but started banging their own drums and quickly drowned out the boos from Gabon’s support when they arrived. November 13, 2025 at 8:25 PM GMT+1 Jay Harris Staff Writer, Tottenham Hotspur Nigerian players quieten the pre-match noise After a dramatic 48 hours in the build-up to this game, which saw Nigeria’s squad boycott training due to a dispute with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), they have taken another step towards qualifying for next year’s World Cup. If they had lost to Gabon, supporters would have criticised the timing of their feud and argued whether they could have waited until the end of these play-offs. Those concerns might still be raised if they lose to Cameroon or DR Congo on Sunday, but they have at least temporarily silenced the noise around them. November 13, 2025 at 8:19 PM GMT+1 Ed Mackey Live Editor A monumental Iwobi performance We mentioned earlier on how committed Alex Iwobi has been to Nigeria over the last 10 years and he was absolutely superb today. If you missed it, that was his 90th appearance for his country — only three men have more Nigeria caps (Ahmed Musa, Vincent Enyeama and Joseph Yobo). The 29-year-old Fulham international did everything in his powers to ensure he and his team-mates have a chance at playing in next summer’s World Cup. November 13, 2025 at 8:12 PM GMT+1 Ed Mackey Live Editor Who will Nigeria face next? We know that Nigeria will play here again on Sunday evening, but we don’t yet know who they will be playing against in that match. The Nigerian supporters will be paying very close attention to the match between DR Congo and Cameroon — that kicked off around 10 minutes ago — as the winner of that game will be Sunday’s opponent. One thing is for sure, Nigeria will have to be a lot better than they were in normal time today if they want to win again in a few days’ time. November 13, 2025 at 8:06 PM GMT+1 Ed Mackey Live Editor Osimhen does the business eventually All the talk coming into the game was about Victor Osimhen’s red-hot Galatasaray form, particularly in the Champions League. But it looked for much of the game as though he would be unable to help Nigeria to an important win. He squandered a host of big chances, including one in the very last minute of normal time, and must have been kicking himself ahead of extra time. Then he came up trumps in that extra-time period with two great finishes. Nigeria fans will be hoping to see the Osimhen of extra time in Sunday’s game… November 13, 2025 at 8:01 PM GMT+1 Ed Mackey Live Editor Nigeria still alive in World Cup qualifying! How is the blood pressure after that one, Nigeria fans? A mammoth match that started exactly three hours ago — and we didn’t even have a penalty shootout! Victor Osimhen couldn’t finish it off in normal time, but put the game beyond all doubt in extra time with two great strikes. I can only imagine the entire country of Nigeria is asking why he couldn’t have done that earlier on! But that all matters very little now as he and his team-mates advance to the next stage. Nigeria know that they need three more wins to book a place at the 2026 World Cup… November 13, 2025 at 7:56 PM GMT+1 Max Mathews Live Reporter FULL TIME: Nigeria 4-1 Gabon That’s it! Finally. Nigeria move through to the CAF play-off final against Cameroon or DR Congo as their 2026 World Cup qualification campaign continues. Gabon’s World Cup dream is over. 4-1 after extra time and the managers shake hands. November 13, 2025 at 7:55 PM GMT+1 Max Mathews Live Reporter Four minutes added on 120+1′ Nigeria 4-1 Gabon That makes it a whole extra half hour of time added on today. Mainly for injuries and VAR checks. Both teams just playing out time before the end now. Gabon have a decent effort from inside the box saved by Nwabali. And… November 13, 2025 at 7:53 PM GMT+1 Max Mathews Live Reporter Frank Onyeka booked 120′ Nigeria 4-1 Gabon Gabon’s Nze Samake rattles into a tough tackle on Frank Onyeka, who goes down pretending to be injured, gets up to start some pushing and shoving, then promptly goes down pretending to be injured again. Both men are booked. November 13, 2025 at 7:52 PM GMT+1 Max Mathews Live Reporter Ndidi’s shot tipped around the post! 119′ Nigeria 4-1 Gabon Wilfred Ndidi’s drive from outside the box is well saved by Loyce Mbaba! Corner and Nigeria are content to see out time now. November 13, 2025 at 7:50 PM GMT+1 Max Mathews Live Reporter No hat-trick for Victor Osimhen! 117′ Nigeria 4-1 Gabon Victor Osimhen is off and will not secure a treble today. The striker will be wrapped up in cotton wool, you’d have thought, ahead of the weekend’s play-off final match against Cameroon or DR Congo. Wolves striker Tolu Arokodare is on in his place. November 13, 2025 at 7:48 PM GMT+1 Max Mathews Live Reporter Gabon getting frustrated 115′ Nigeria 4-1 Gabon Gabon are losing their tempers here and Alex Moucketou-Moussounda is booked after a tasty challenge on Wilfred Ndidi. November 13, 2025 at 7:44 PM GMT+1 Jay Harris Staff Writer, Tottenham Hotspur Nigeria avoid a potential banana skin Iwobi receives a long hug from one of Nigeria’s backroom staff. He looked knackered but thirty seconds later he jumped off the bench and threw his water bottle on the floor when Osimhen made it 4-1. Game over. Disaster avoided. November 13, 2025 at 7:44 PM GMT+1 Max Mathews Live Reporter Super goal from Osimhen 111′ Nigeria 4-1 Gabon Victor Osimhen took down a long ball on his chest, powered past a few defenders and into the penalty area. Despite being on the angle and facing away from goal, he levered a strong low effort past a flat-footed Mbaba and into the corner. Eight goals for Osimhen in this qualifying campaign and even the Gabon players realise this is over now. They will not be going to the World Cup unless a miracle of all football miracles happens. November 13, 2025 at 7:42 PM GMT+1 Max Mathews Live Reporter GOAL! Victor Osimhen has a second! 110′ Nigeria 4-1 Gabon Surely this match is over now! Victor Osimhen has two and Nigeria are basically into the play-off final. November 13, 2025 at 7:42 PM GMT+1 Max Mathews Live Reporter Double change for Nigeria 109′ Nigeria 3-1 Gabon Nigeria looking to lock it down now. Off come midfielder Alex Iwobi and right-back Bright Osayi-Samuel. Centre-backs Chidozie Awaziem and William Troost-Ekong are on. November 13, 2025 at 7:41 PM GMT+1 Max Mathews Live Reporter Nwabali nearly in trouble again! 108′ Nigeria 3-1 Gabon What on earth is Stanley Nwabali doing? The Nigeria goalkeeper has been lax and casual in possession inside his penalty area on several occasions already and has nearly been caught on it a couple of times. There, he allowed the ball to roll almost to the goal-line, with a Gabon attacker sliding in and unlucky not to bundle it in. Nwabali somehow scrambles it out of play. Just get rid of it! November 13, 2025 at 7:39 PM GMT+1 Max Mathews Live Reporter SECOND HALF OF EXTRA TIME: Nigeria 3-1 Gabon After a very short break and intense team talk, the second period of extra time is up and running. 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