Osimhen Inspires Super Eagles to Dramatic Victory Over Gabon
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has publicly praised Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen after his brilliant performance helped Nigeria secure a place in the final round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup playoffs. The Galatasaray forward scored a crucial brace during Nigeria's 4-1 victory over Gabon in the semifinal match played on Thursday night, November 13, 2025.
Nigeria's Path to World Cup Qualification
The Super Eagles' impressive win against the Panthers has positioned them favorably to represent Africa at the inter-continental playoffs scheduled for March 2026. Despite entering the match as underdogs against a Gabon team that had accumulated 25 points during the World Cup qualifiers, Nigeria demonstrated remarkable resilience to secure their spot in the playoff final, where they will face either DR Congo or Cameroon.
Thrilling Match Details and Key Moments
The encounter proved to be a dramatic affair that extended into extra time. Sevilla forward Akor Adams broke the deadlock in the 78th minute, capitalizing on a defensive error by Bruno Ecuele Manga. However, Mario Lamine equalized for Gabon in the 89th minute following a deflection off Birmingham defender Bright Osayi-Samuel, forcing the game into extra time.
Chidera Ejuke scored his first international goal for Nigeria in the 97th minute to give the Super Eagles a 2-1 lead. Osimhen, who had missed several clear chances earlier in the match, finally found the net in the 102nd minute after receiving an assist from defender Benjamin Fredrick. The Galatasaray star completed his brace in the 110th minute with a spectacular individual effort, expertly controlling Chigozie Awaziem's long pass before beating four Gabonese defenders.
CAF Recognition and Social Media Reaction
Following the match, CAF took to social media to celebrate Osimhen's performance, posting: "Always him. Always there. Victor Osimhen!" The recognition highlighted the striker's growing importance to African football. With his two goals against Gabon, Osimhen has now scored 31 goals in 44 appearances for the Nigerian national team.
Nigerian fans expressed their excitement across social media platforms, with one user noting: "Glory be to God, nice winning. I am proud of you," while another commented: "Congratulations Super Eagles! Next is the final. We take this one step at a time."
The victory represents a significant step forward for Nigeria's World Cup qualification hopes and sets up a crucial final matchup that will determine whether the Super Eagles advance to the global tournament.
