Gabon's national team head coach Thierry Mouyouma has delivered a stylish verbal jab at Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen ahead of their crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup playoff encounter, setting the stage for a dramatic showdown in Morocco.
The High-Stakes World Cup Playoff
The Super Eagles of Nigeria kept their World Cup qualification hopes alive with a commanding 4-0 victory over Benin that propelled them into the playoffs against Gabon. Both nations face immense pressure - Nigeria seeks to avoid consecutive World Cup absences after missing the 2022 tournament, while Gabon dreams of their first-ever World Cup appearance.
The decisive match is scheduled for November 13, 2025, at 8 pm Nigerian time at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, Morocco. The winner will advance to face either Cameroon or DR Congo in the next qualification phase.
Mouyouma's Verbal Strike Against Osimhen
During Gabon's squad announcement press conference, Coach Mouyouma responded to Osimhen's recent pledge to do everything possible to help Nigeria qualify for the World Cup. The Gabonese tactician pointed to his own star striker's accomplishments as a counterpoint.
"Osimhen said he would do everything to take Nigeria to the World Cup. I think Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has already answered this question and demonstrated by scoring four goals against The Gambia," Mouyouma stated, as quoted by All Nigeria Soccer.
The coach added dismissively, "So, I have almost nothing to say about Osimhen's words."
Questioning Osimhen's Track Record
Mouyouma further downplayed Osimhen's commitment as mere motivational talk, referencing the striker's similar promise before the AFCON final that ultimately went unfulfilled when Ivory Coast emerged victorious.
"It's motivation, a call to unite his team behind him. But he also said in the last Afcon that he would do everything to bring the cup to Nigeria. Unfortunately, Ivory Coast won," Mouyouma noted.
The Gabon coach concluded with a pointed assessment: "Well, these are motivational words that everyone uses without conviction. It's his opinion alone."
Gabon arrives with significant firepower, as their 26-man squad features strikers Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Denis Bouanga, who combined for 14 goals during the group stage qualifiers. The team also welcomes back suspended defender Mick Onfia and includes Galatasaray midfielder Mario Lemina.
Osimhen now faces the challenge of proving Mouyouma wrong while carrying Nigeria's World Cup hopes and saving his generation from the embarrassment of missing consecutive tournaments. The stage is set for a dramatic confrontation where actions will speak louder than words.
