World Cup 2026: Eagles and Panthers Go Head-to-Head

Nigeria vs Gabon

One of Africa’s most successful football nations comes face-to-face with a dangerous opponent on Thursday when Nigeria and Gabon fight for a place at World Cup 2026.

The Super Eagles were absent from the 2022 World Cup, having qualified for the three previous finals, reaching the knockout phase in 2014. And Eric Chelle’s men missed out on automatic qualification this time around, finishing second in Group C, but they have a second chance as one of four teams now in a mini-tournament to get to the next stage.    

Gabon manager Thierry Mouyouma led his nation to second spot in Group F, racking up an impressive 25 points from their 10 games and finishing a single point behind a star-studded Ivory Coast. The Panthers will clash with Nigeria on neutral ground in Morocco, the winners meeting either Cameroon or DR Congo in the final. The overall winner will then go to an inter-continental play-off next March, so there is still a long way to go, with the first step on Thursday.   

 

Talking Points

Nigeria must take their third chance

The Super Eagles had a disappointing group and were trailing South Africa, but they received a major boost when the BafanaBafana were docked three points for fielding an ineligible player. Chelle’s team failed to take advantage and still finished second, but all is not lost. They have three more hurdles to jump over, but when you look at Nigeria’s squad, they clearly have the talent to succeed.      

There’s a big representation from Premier League side Fulham in the Super Eagles’ team, with Calvin Bassey in a defensive midfield role, the exciting Alex Iwobi on the flank, and Samuel Chukwueze up front. Wilfred Ndidi, now at Besiktas and a former Leicester City star, is a powerful figure in the centre of midfield. Meanwhilem Atalanta star, another former Fulham man, Ademola Lookman, will try to stretch the Gabon defence.

If they can make it to Canada, Mexico, and the USA next year, the World Cup 2026 betting odds will give the Super Eagles a chance to make it to the knockouts again, but they have a lot of work to do before then. 

There are plenty of stars in the Super Eagles’ side but none bigger than striker Victor Osimhen, a Scudetto winner with Napoli. Now at Galatasaray, the 26-year-old striker has 29 goals in 43 internationals, and he recently scored a hat-trick in the Champions League for his club in a 3-0 win over Ajax. Osimhen is a strong and powerful runner who links play up brilliantly and has a fierce shot on him. If the Gabon defence can stop Lookman then they have a bigger problem to solve. 

 

Gabon the underdogs

At 77^th in the FIFA World Rankings, the Panthers are 36 places behind their more illustrious opponents. Gabon have reached the quarter-finals of the African Cup of Nations twice, in 1996 and 2012, but have never been at a World Cup finals. But Mouyouma’s men have put in a good set of World Cup 2026 results in qualification, narrowly missing out on an automatic place and they will give Nigeria a good run for their money.

While the Super Eagles have a host of household names in their ranks the Panthers main man is 36-year-old striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. After a year in the Saudi Pro league, Aubameyang has returned to Marseille, where he is helping Roberto De Zerbi’s side push PSG at the top of Ligue 1.  The Gabon skipper made his name when he was the Bundesliga top scorer with Borussia Dortmund in 2017 and went on to a glittering Premier League career, scoring 68 goals in 128 games for Arsenal.

Supported by Los Angeles star Denis Bouanga and with 32-year-old Galatasaray midfielder Mario Lemina in behind, Aubameyang will do all he can to make it an uncomfortable night for Nigeria.  

 

History

Nigeria have won five, drawn three, and lost one of their meetings with Gabon, and the SBOTOP odds say the Super Eagles will make it six. There haven’t been any clashes between these two nations for quite some time, most recently Nigeria winning 2-0 in a 2005 World Cup qualifier. 

In terms of recent form, Nigeria have won five and drawn four games in 2025, while Gabon have won six, drawn one, and lost one.  

 

Betting Tip

With Gabon priced at 4.75 and the draw at 3.30, all three results are in play, and the underdogs certainly pose a threat. But I think Nigeria’s strength in depth and big tournament experience will see the Super Eagles through.

   

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