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After a very poor group phase showing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers which left the Super Eagles on the edge, the former African champions will be on duty for a ‘backdoor’ route towards booking their place in the global fiesta set to be staged by the trio of the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Come Thursday, the Super Eagles will come up against the Panthers of Gabon at the 22,000-capacity Prince Moulay El Hassan Stadium, Rabat.
On the verge of missing out entirely even for a playoff spot in Group C, the Super Eagles, in the last match-day of the qualifiers, produced remarkable performance to beat Cheetahs of Benin Republic 4-0, a result that was enough for them to finish as one of the four best second-placed sides to qualify for continual playoff.
As a result of the qualification for the playoff, optimisms are rife that the former African champions would take advantage of this to ensure that Nigeria never missed two consecutive finals of the World Cup after failing to qualify for the last one in Qatar.
The Super Eagles will play Gabon on Thursday and should the result expectly go their way, they would then proceed to the final where they would come against the winner between the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon and the Leopards of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The winner in the final will then proceed to the final leg of the playoffs in Mexico where two countries will join the rest for places in the World Cup finals next year. On the present form, the Super Eagles are expected to see off the Panthers on Thursday, as Nigeria is the highest ranking side and understandably too.
In Thursday’s match against the Panthers, history is on the side of the Super Eagles. Gabon will hope to finally break a persistent curse whenever they face Nigeria. Historically, Nigeria has overwhelmingly dominated encounters involving the two countries, with a record that leaves little room for optimism for the Gabonese.
Since 1983, the two nations have met five times. Nigeria remains undefeated, with two wins and three draws. The first encounter, a FIFA friendly on March 2, 1983, ended in a 0-0 draw. Eleven years later, at the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations, specifically on March 25 of that year, the Super Eagles thrashed Gabon 3-0.
The qualifiers for the 2006 World Cup saw two more encounters: a 1-1 draw at home for Nigeria on October 9, 2004, followed by a 2-0 away win on March 25, 2005. Finally, a FIFA friendly on November 21, 1999, ended in another 1-1 draw.
In summary, in five matches played, Nigeria has two wins, Gabon none and there are three draws. In terms of goals, the balance also favours the Super Eagles with eight goals compared to Gabon’s two.
The Panthers have therefore never beaten their Thursday opponent, a cruel statistic that weighs heavily on their’ shoulders.
However, the Super Eagles must be wary of Coach Thierry Mouyouma of Gabon who embodies the hope of a revival. The Gabonese coach, known for his tactical rigor and motivating speeches, is counting on a talented generation led by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, still decisive despite being 36 years old.
Their qualification for the playoff should be seen as the strength of the team where they placed second behind Cote d’Ivoire in Group F, only being bettered by the West Africans with a point as they finished on 25 points below Ivorians’ 26.
Also, losing just a match and drawing one in the qualifiers showed how much work the coach has put into the team and thus, Super Eagles must brace up for a fight as this is a knockout.
Speaking on the lifeline for qualification, Super Eagles midfielder, Alex Iwobi, expressed confidence that after coming back from the brinks of total elimination, they would do everything possible to get the job done.
“We’ve managed to rescue ourselves from the dead,” he admitted while speaking to the CNN.
“We know we have the players and the abilities to compete against any other country in the world,” he adds.
“We have last year’s African best player (Ademola Lookman), the year before that (Victor Osimhen).
“It’ll be a shame if we don’t make it, but we have a lot of confidence. We just have to prove it to ourselves now that we have the second chance to do it,” he said.
For Garba Lawal, the team should not be complacent and write off Gabon.
“It is clear that the playoffs are going to be very tough because the best four seconds placed teams in the qualifiers have emerged.
“It would have been much better if the Super Eagles had gone through the normal way than going through this long route.
“To imagine that after winning in Africa, they still have to play a team from Asia or South America. Even if you win the CAF playoff, you must also win the global one. It’s not a small task at all.”
The former Lobi Stars manager, while warning the Super Eagles against complacency, said no one expected teams like Zimbabwe and Lesotho to play draw with Nigeria during the World Cup qualifiers.
He said: “Our group isn’t easy. Some people said Lesotho would be easy, but we struggled to beat them 2–1. Uganda are even stronger. There are no easy games in African football.”
William Troost-Ekong, the team captain, said this is a task they must accomplish after missing the automatic qualification.
“We are quite happy to have that opportunity. It is a long route, but it is a route after all. We would have loved to get the automatic ticket, but it didn’t happen, and we take what we have,” he said.
“For us, we will remain strong and tough and ready to confront every challenge on our way as we search for the ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.”
To Victor Ikpeba, the opportunity presented by the playoff would test the strength of the Super Eagles, even as he admitted that it won’t be easy for the former African champions.
“People are disappointed. We should top our group with the potential we have. I can’t wait for the playoffs,” he said.
“The games with Gabon and Cameroon are spicy. These are the great derbies in African football.
“If we have to play Cameroon, that is another struggle, another spicy game. It’s not going to come easy, in this playoff, no.
“I wish our boys well. All the best of luck, and if they get to these games with the same mentality, I think we will get through it.”
On his own, Sunday Mbah, an AFCON winner, charged the players to justify the huge green and white-coloured shirt of Nigeria they are putting on.
“Everybody is scared of Nigeria and the players know these things. That makes them proud to be Nigerians and to represent Nigeria,” he said.
“They also know that, because Nigeria is so big, they cannot wear our jersey and chicken out. But football has really changed. It’s not like before, when we’ll downplay Tanzania and say they can’t play football. It’s no longer like that.”
Mba went on to reiterate that the Eagles must not take Thursday’s match for granted, as it is their unexpected chance to get back into reckoning for a ticket into next year’s World Cup.
“Nobody expected Gabon to be this hot. A country with how many million people. But, football has really changed. So, it’s for our players to know that they are representing Nigeria.
“They have to stand for Nigeria, play for Nigeria, win for Nigeria, and they just have to win (the playoffs),” Mba stressed
While comparing the present scenario to what obtained in Nigeria’s march towards qualifying for the 2010 Mundial, former NFF boss, Sani Lulu Abdullahi, charged the NFF to adequately motivate the players.
“What the NFF needs now is to ensure that the players are well motivated towards the task ahead. They should ensure that they are on the same page with the players at every point and that their welfare is not jeopardized,” he said.
“We were in a similar situation during the 2010 World Cup qualifiers, but the Super Eagles squeezed through. I believe this team can do the same with the right motivation and support,” he said.
Peterside Idah, former Nigerian goalkeeper, also lent his voice, saying Gabon has advanced and should not be treated with kid gloves.
Speaking to Soccer Beat, Peterside highlighted the emerging threat posed by Gabon.
“The playoffs are going to be challenging. We’ve been paired with Gabon – Aubameyang and his team – which shows they’re rising just like Cape Verde,” the retired goalkeeper explained.
However, the optimism is not one-sided as there is also a belief in Gabon that they could upset their more and understandably resilient Nigerian side.
The coach of the Panthers, Mouyouma, admitted that getting up to 25 points without sealing qualification automatically was heartbreaking, however, noting that they would attempt to upset the Super Eagles on November 13.
The coach told Sporting News Africa: “To get 25 points and not qualify is hard to take.
“We are ready. It will be a good match to play (against Nigeria), and a good test for the 2025 AFCON.
“Perhaps they will be happy because they will start as favourites but we have what it takes to upset them and that is what we are deeply planning to do.
“We also want to go to the World Cup just like all other countries in the race and there is no right place to prove that we truly desire to be there like now,” he said.
Meanwhile, Nigerians will expect a commanding performance from the former African champions after missing the last edition of the World Cup.
Eric Chelle will be brimming with confidence with stars capable of not only seeing off Gabon but going ahead to also qualify for the intercontinental playoff.
