Nigeria battle Gabon in crucial World Cup playoff today

Nigeria’s Super Eagles yesterday lifted their training boycott and trained ahead of today’s crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup playoff against Gabon at the Prince Moulay Hassan Stadium in Rabat, Morocco.

The match, scheduled for 5:00 pm, is a pivotal step in Nigeria’s bid to return to the World Cup stage after missing the last edition held in Qatar.

The team’s media unit confirmed that all outstanding issues between players, officials, and football authorities have been resolved, allowing the squad to focus fully on the playoff.

This was also confirmed by captain William Troost-Ekong in a tweet on X where he said outstanding financials have been paid.

“Issue RESOLVED. Outstanding financials cleared and on ground. Team is UNITED and focussed as before on representing NIGERIA with our maximum for the games ahead,” he wrote.

The Super Eagles trained yesterday evening at the Institut Royal de Formation Des Cadres in Salé, outside Rabat marking only their second practice since arriving, after a limited session on Monday, November 10.

Meanwhile, Nigeria enters the playoff on the back of solid form, remaining unbeaten in six of their last matches, including a commanding 4-0 win against Benin Republic.

Star striker Victor Osimhen will lead the attack alongside Ademola Lookman and Samuel Chukwueze, while Wilfred Ndidi and Alex Iwobi are expected to control midfield. Defender Semi Ajayi may be rested due to suspension concerns, while Ola Aina continues his recovery from surgery.

Gabon, runners-up in Group F behind Ivory Coast, present a formidable challenge. Their squad, bolstered by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, has scored 22 goals and conceded nine in qualifying.

Historically, Nigeria holds the advantage, winning five of nine encounters, with FIFA rankings also in their favour (41st versus Gabon’s 77th).

A win for Nigeria would move the Super Eagles one step closer to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The victor will next face the winner of the Cameroon vs. DR Congo clash in the final playoff to secure a spot in the intercontinental qualifier scheduled for March.

If Nigeria reaches that stage, they will likely face a team from Asia, Oceania, South America, or the CONCACAF region, depending on FIFA rankings. The winners of the intercontinental playoffs will then earn their place in the expanded 48-team World Cup tournament.

It will be noted that the recent boycott stemmed from concerns over unpaid allowances. National Sports Commission (NSC) Director-General Bukola Olapade clarified that all funds for the team have been duly remitted to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) since his appointment in November 2024, emphasizing that the NSC does not pay players directly.

Previous government interventions, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s clearance of a ₦12 bn backlog in January 2024, and subsequent bonus settlements had ensured players’ dues were fully covered, helping restore confidence and stability within the team.