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Nigeria and Gabon will clash on Thursday evening in a high-stakes 2026 FIFA World Cup African playoff semi-final at the Complexe Sportif Prince Héritier Moulay Al Hassan in Rabat.

The encounter promises an intense atmosphere as both sides fight for a spot in Sunday’s final, where they would face either Cameroon or the Democratic Republic of Congo for a place at the World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.

For Nigeria, six-time World Cup finalists, the mission is clear to avoid missing back-to-back tournaments and to ensure their current golden generation doesn’t lose valuable experience on football’s biggest stage. Gabon, on the other hand, is seeking to make history by qualifying for its first-ever World Cup appearance.

Both coaches, Eric Chelle for Nigeria and Thierry Mouyouma for Gabon, are expected to line up their strongest teams, with both sides likely to deploy similar 4-3-3 formations.

Chelle, unbeaten in four qualifying matches with Nigeria, is expected to keep faith with goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali. In defence, the absence of Ola Aina and Semi Ajayi could see Benjamin Fredericks, William Troost-Ekong, Calvin Bassey, and Zaidu Sanusi form the backline.

Wilfred Ndidi, Alex Iwobi, and Frank Onyeka are set to control the midfield, while Victor Osimhen will lead the attack alongside Samuel Chukwueze and Ademola Lookman. Osimhen, Africa’s reigning Player of the Year, has scored six goals in the qualifying series and remains Nigeria’s biggest attacking threat.

For Gabon, Mouyouma will rely heavily on veteran forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, supported by Denis Bouanga and Noah Lemina in attack. The Panthers’ setup will likely feature Loyce Mbaba in goal, with Jacques Ekomie, Bruno Manga, Mick Omfia, and Anthony Oyono in defence, while Guélor Kanga, Mario Lemina, and Didier Ndong control the midfield.

Gabon earned their playoff spot as the best second-placed team in the qualifiers and will look to Aubameyang’s experience to inspire an upset. The Arsenal and Dortmund legend carries family history into this fixture; his father, Pierre-François Aubameyang, played against Nigeria at the 1994 AFCON, where Gabon were eliminated as the Super Eagles went on to win the title.

Historically, Nigeria has dominated this fixture, winning five of the nine previous meetings, with three draws and one defeat a 2-1 loss in a 1989 World Cup qualifier that cost them a ticket to Italia ’90. Thursday’s encounter, however, must produce a winner, setting the stage for another chapter in a rivalry that stretches back six decades.

By Oluwadamilola Olaleye

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