WCQ Playoffs: Super Eagles advance to continental final after extra time heroics

Nigeria's Super Eagles beat Gabon 4-2 in AFCON semi-final extra time: Adams 78', Lemina 89'; Ejuke & Osimhen (2) seal final vs DR Congo.

Ademola Lookman, who was already subbed off waltzed to the pitch to celebrate with Victor Osimhen after the Galatasaray striker rounded off scoring against Gabon on Thursday in Rabat, Morocco. Nigeria won 4-1 to advance to the continental final. (Photo credit: Pulse)

On Thursday, the Super Eagles of Nigeria displayed a mix of brilliance and mediocrity over 90 minutes, but they recalled their heritage during extra time.

Payment issues forced the Super Eagles to refuse to train earlier in the week, with media personalities throwing in onions and condiments; however, the performance of the Super Eagles in the first half against Gabon didn’t look like they had training issues.

Adams was denied early on, and Osimhen headed wide from nine yards before Gabon goalkeeper Loyce Mbaba made two brilliant reflex saves to keep the game even. The Super Eagles had a penalty shout when the ball ricocheted off the arm of a Gabonese defender, but the ref didn’t go to the monitor.

The Panthers looked to play on the counter-attack, but one major flashpoint came early in the second half when they claimed a penalty for a shirt pull by Bright Osayi-Samuel on Aaron Appindangoye; on face value, it looked like a stone-wall penalty.

Yet, after referee Abongile Tom spent over three minutes studying his pitch-side monitor and in conversation with Video Assistant Referee Akhona Makalima, the appeals were turned down, and you wonder if it was to balance out the denial of a clear penalty to Nigeria in the first half.

Denis Bouanga and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had scored 15 goals between them for Gabon during the group stage but rarely had a sight at goal, as 20-year-old Benjamin Fredrick impressed at the heart of the Nigerian defence, justifying Eric Chelle’s decision to start him ahead of William Troost-Ekong.

The Malian, who has revived a faltering qualification campaign, is now one game closer to leading the three-time continental champions to the expanded 48-team World Cup and winning over those who questioned his appointment.

Sevilla star Chidera Ejuke and Victor Osimhen struck in the first period of added time after the match in Rabat had ended 1-1 after 90 minutes. Osimhen’s goal took the game completely away from the Panthers as the Nigerian wheeled out in celebration.

Osimhen ripped off his protective face mask and shirt to celebrate his goal – no doubt partly in relief after the striker had squandered a glorious chance to win it for the Super Eagles in the 12th minute of stoppage time at the end of the game.

The Galatasaray man grabbed his second goal of the evening five minutes into the second half of extra time to make sure of victory. Nigeria, who enjoyed the better of the semi-final tie, had seemed on course to win in regulation time after Akor Adams pounced on a poor back-pass to give Eric Chelle's side the lead in the 78th minute.

But Gabon levelled in the 89th minute through Mario Lemina's deflected shot to send the game to extra time, before the Panthers were eventually undone by clinical finishing from their West African rivals. The Super Eagles will contest the continental final with Congo DR on Sunday after the latter defeated Cameroon in the other semifinal by 1-0.