Victor Osimhen scored twice in extra-time as Nigeria sealed a comprehensive 4-1 win over Gabon to advance to the final of the CAF World Cup playoffs on Thursday.
The Galatasaray forward had missed a big chance to win the game for the Super Eagles on the stroke of halftime, but atoned for his earlier miss with a superb extra-time performance.
Both teams had entered the playoff rounds after finishing as one of the best-ranked runners-up teams following the conclusion of the group stage.
Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo faced off in the other clash, with the winners of both ties facing off in a final clash later on Sunday.
Nigeria dominated the early exchanges of the clash but could not get past Loyce Mbaba in the Gabon goal, with Osimhen guilty of some missed chances.
The Panthers were denied a penalty in the second half as the referee turned down appeals despite reviewing a shirt pull by Bright Osayi-Samuel on Aaron Appindangoye for about three minutes.
The game seemed likely to enter extra-time until a major error at the Gabonese defense gave Nigeria the chance to take the lead.
Sevilla forward Akor Adams pounced on a poor back pass from a Gabon defender and beat goalkeeper Mbaba who was out of his area, before passing the ball into an empty net.
However, Gabon refused to give up and grabbed an equalizer in the closing stages of rhe encounter when Mario Lemina’s attempt deflected into the net to make the scores 1-1.
Osimhen then had the chance to seal the victory for Nigeria when left one on one with Mbaba, but he blazed his effort wide of the mark.
The game went into extra-time and the Super Eagles wasted no time in going ahead through Chidera Ejuke, before Osimhen grabbed his first of the night to make it 3-1.
The forward added a second in the second half of extra-time to seal a 4-1 win for Nigeria and send them to the final where they will face either Cameroon or DR Congo on Sunday.
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