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Updated 44s ago
It is goalless between Nigeria and Gabon in the play-off semi-final of African qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.
Victor Osimhen was hurt in a collision with the Gabon goalkeeper in the first half, but was okay to continue after intervention from the Nigeria physios. He then probably should have scored the opening goal in the 23rd minute, but fluffed his lines.
The winners will advance to Sunday's final against Cameroon or DR Congo, with a place in March's intercontinental play-off on the line.
The midfielder had a busy first half, breaking up Gabon possession in the middle of the pitch and spearheading Nigeria’s advances upfield.
His willingness to carry the ball and then pick a well-timed pass got Nigeria into a couple of dangerous areas.
He dictates the tempo — can he inspire his team to a goal?
Interesting!
That's the interval here in Rabat.
We are goalless.
45+7' Nigeria 0-0 Gabon
More good defending as Aubameyang, 36, showcases serious pace by scorching into the penalty area but Fredrick recovers superbly to poke it out for a corner.
Bouanga, who is having a laser shone in his face as he takes the set piece, whips it in but Nwabali punches it away before sprinting to the left touchline to keep it in play.
Bassey is then fouled after Nwabali's pass.
45+5' Nigeria 0-0 Gabon
Well played, Benjamin Fredrick. The 20-year-old Brentford centre-half only made his international debut in May but has impressed and was picked ahead of captain William Troost-Ekong today.
He was well positioned and stood up to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang very well moments ago and got a foot in to block his cross at the edge of the area.
Nigeria have become erratic with their passing in the last 10 minutes.
They have been rattled by the Gabon fans and lost a lot of the slickness they showed in possession in the first 30 minutes.
Half-time will probably benefit them. Eric Chelle is extremely animated on the touchline and is clearly feeling the pressure.
45+2' Nigeria 0-0 Gabon
We have six minutes of added time.
The ref approaches Nwabali to check how pumped up the balls are and is seemingly satisfied after a quick inspection so we play on.
45' Nigeria 0-0 Gabon
Anthony Oyono, the wide centre-back, dribbles forward and stumbles through an attempted slide tackle before feeding it through to wing-back Openda inside the box.
Royce Openda, who plays in the French fourth division for Bordeaux, cuts inside with a clever flick and shoots but his left-footed shot is weak and too close to Stanley Nwabali.
He wanted that on his right foot.
44' Nigeria 0-0 Gabon
A minute before the break and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who is just back from suspension after a red card against Gambia and missed the match against Burundi, is booked.
42' Nigeria 0-0 Gabon
Bizarre moment there as Bouanga fouled Bright Osayi-Samuel down the right, the linesman waved his flag to indicate a foul but the referee seemed not to see it and as Bouanga stopped, play continued!
Osayi-Samuel did what every kid is taught — play to the whistle — and carried on dribbling down the right.
It came to nothing as Mbaba parried his low cross into the box and Gabon cleared. That could have been controversial.
40' Nigeria 0-0 Gabon
Nearly at the break and Gabon goalkeeper Loyce Mbaba is getting some treatment on his hamstring, I think. Maybe cramp.
Both sets of players take a breather and chat to their managers.
37' Nigeria 0-0 Gabon
Superb probing pass from Alex Iwobi on the left touchline to the edge of the box for Ademola Lookman.
Nice control from the Atalanta man but instead of shooting he checks back and is robbed, the ball breaking to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as Gabon surge forward.
With ‘oohs’ of encouragement suddenly echoing around the Moulay Hassan Stadium, Aubameyang dribbles through the centre of the pitch, a team-mate to his left and Denis Bouanga to his right.
He maybe should have given the pass to Bouanga earlier and definitely should have put less on it. With the defence recovering, Bouanga needed to shoot first time but his first touch was poor and took him wide.
His second touch was a tackle. Gabon rather butchered that opportunity from a promising position.
Even more Gabon fans are being let into the stadium now and they are making a lot of noise.
I do think that is part of the reason why the momentum on the pitch has shifted in the last five minutes.
35' Nigeria 0-0 Gabon
For sure, the free kick decision Chelle was complaining about after that penalty-area chaos was pretty soft. But it wasn't over the line and it wasn't handball.
South African referee Abongile Tom has largely been pretty good.
I may or may not have just heard Nigeria's head coach Eric Chelle say to his bench “this referee…”
I will let you all decide what he means by that.
Adams just conceded a free kick for tussling with a Gabon defender.
Nigeria's head coach Eric Chelle reacted by throwing a water bottle into the floor and he was quickly told off by the fourth official.
30' Nigeria 0-0 Gabon
A hilarious passage of play.
Osimhen header, Ecuele Manga cleared it into his own defender, the other defender deflected it back towards his own goal, brilliant save off the line, Nigeria were appealing that it went over the line and for a handball, the ref blew his whistle and Nigeria thought they had a spot kick…
But it was a (very soft) free kick for Gabon, with Adams judged to have fouled the defender who cleared it.
VAR checked and confirmed the on-field call.
We move on.
28' Nigeria 0-0 Gabon
No! Nearly, but no.
Lookman stands up a cross from the left to the back post for Victor Osimhen, who possesses such a fantastic leap.
He climbs highest, nods it goalwards but it deflects off two defenders who both try to clear it before bobbling messily into the bottom-right corner. Again, Mbaba stands up tall and bails his team out, diving full length to his left to push it away before his team-mates clear.
26' Nigeria 0-0 Gabon
Gabon have some really talented players, particularly former Premier League midfielders Mario Lemina and Didier Ndong and forwards Denis Bouanga and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
But the underdogs have been on the back foot for much of the match so far, Nigeria enjoying most of possession and almost all of the chances.
The Nigerian backline is stationed high and well into the Gabon half, keeping the pressure on without any real release.
