Osimhen scores two goals as Nigeria set up World Cup clash with DR Congo

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Victor Osimhen’s brace against Gabon puts Nigeria done to CAF World Cup playoff last connected Sunday against DR Congo.

Published On 14 Nov 2025

Star guardant Victor Osimhen scored doubly successful other clip to clinch a 4-1 semifinal triumph for Nigeria implicit Gabon connected Thursday and acceptable up a Confederation of African Football (CAF) 2026 World Cup qualifying last against the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Captain Chancel Mbemba was the Congolese leader successful the 2nd semifinal, scoring successful the archetypal infinitesimal of added clip to bushed eight-time World Cup qualifiers Cameroon 1-0 successful torrential rainfall successful Rabat.

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Nigeria volition look DRC connected Sunday successful the Moroccan capital, and the winners suffice for a six-nation FIFA inter-continental tourney successful March. The African playoffs progressive the champion 4 radical runners-up.

Bolivia and New Caledonia person already secured slots successful the playoffs; Iraq oregon the United Arab Emirates volition correspond Asia; and determination volition beryllium 2 qualifiers from the Central America/Caribbean region. Europe are excluded.

After semifinals among the 4 lowest-ranked teams, the winners of the 2 finals volition unafraid places astatine the World Cup successful the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Nigeria are seeking a seventh quality astatine the planetary showpiece and DRC a second, having played successful the 1974 tourney erstwhile the cardinal African state was called Zaire.

Osimhen squandered a large accidental to springiness Nigeria triumph astatine the extremity of added time, firing wide with lone goalkeeper Loyce Mbaba to beat.

But the 2023 African Player of the Year atoned connected 102 minutes, firing crossed Mbaba into the acold country aft being acceptable up by Benjamin Fredrick.

He struck again connected 110 minutes, controlling a agelong walk earlier erstwhile again beating the goalkeeper with a changeable into the acold corner.

After conceding an 89th-minute equaliser successful regular time, Nigeria regained the pb erstwhile substitute Chidera Ejuke scored his archetypal extremity for the Super Eagles aft 97 minutes.

Alex Iwobi and Andre Poko successful action.

Osimhen’s impact

Akor Adams had enactment Nigeria up connected 78 minutes, and Mario Lemina levelled aft 89 minutes.

Nigeria had a purple spot midway done the opening fractional with Osimhen coming adjacent 3 times to breaking the deadlock.

The 26-year-old Galatasaray striker headed wide twice, past had an entreaty for handball turned down aft a VAR review.

There was different VAR cheque connected the hr aft Nigeria full-back Bright Osayi-Samuel pulled the garment of Aaron Appindangoye successful the box, denying the defender a accidental to link with a free-kick.

After a lengthy review, Gabonese appeals for a punishment were turned down by the South African referee.

The deadlock successful a tense showdown was yet breached erstwhile Adams intercepted a misplaced Gabon pass, rounded Mbaba and scored.

There was an constituent of luck astir the Gabon equaliser arsenic goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali appeared to person the changeable from Lemina covered until it took a deflection and sneaked into the country of the net.

DRC contradict Cameroon

With conscionable six satellite ranking places separating Cameroon and DRC, a adjacent brushwood was expected, and truthful it proved with fewer clear-cut scoring chances successful a cagey clash earlier Mbemba struck.

Manchester United striker Bryan Mbeumo had the champion accidental for Cameroon midway done the 2nd half, but his debased changeable was conscionable disconnected target.

A small earlier, Congolese seasoned Cedric Bakambu was foiled by goalkeeper Andre Onana, who pushed distant his changeable astatine the disbursal of a corner.

Group winners Algeria, Cape Verde, Egypt, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia secured the 9 automatic qualifying places reserved for Africa.

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