Super Eagles Return to Training Ahead of Crucial Clash with Gabon
Nigeria’s Super Eagles have returned to training after resolving the pay dispute that caused them to miss Tuesday’s session. The team trained on Wednesday evening at the Institut Royal de Formation Des Cadres in Salé, near Rabat, as preparations intensified for Thursday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup Africa playoff semi-final against the Panthers of Gabon.
With the issue of unpaid allowances now settled, the players are fully focused on securing victory in what promises to be a fierce contest. A win on Thursday will see Nigeria advance to Sunday’s final of the playoff series.
President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, expressed optimism about the team’s chances.
“We believe in the players and their ability to make Nigeria proud, not only on Thursday but throughout these playoffs,” Gusau said. “We have a team capable of earning a World Cup ticket.”
Former Super Eagles coach and current NFF Technical Director, Augustine Eguavoen, also backed the team to bounce back strongly.
“These boys that I know, that I have worked with, want to go to the FIFA World Cup,” he said. “The timing of the strike was wrong, but I have faith in them to rise to the occasion and do the business on Thursday, and afterwards, on Sunday.”
Thursday’s match will take place at the Complexe Sportif Prince Héritier Moulay Al Hassan in Rabat, kicking off at 5pm — the same time zone as Nigeria. It will be the 10th meeting between the two nations. The Super Eagles have won five of the previous nine matches, drawn three, and lost just once — a 2-1 defeat in Libreville during the 1990 World Cup qualifiers.
All eyes will be on star strikers Victor Osimhen and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who are expected to lead their respective attacks. Aubameyang scored all four of Gabon’s goals in their away match against Gambia, while Osimhen has been in fine form, netting five goals in Nigeria’s recent qualifiers.
The Super Eagles will be aiming to maintain their dominance over Gabon and move one step closer to a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
