The Super Eagles of Nigeria delivered a "masterclass" performance in their 4-1 extra-time victory over Gabon in the FIFA World Cup African play-off semi-final in Rabat, significantly shifting the atmosphere around the three-time AFCON champions. The win, which felt like Nigeria was shedding old habits and discovering a new structure, was largely attributed to two crucial tactical decisions by coach Eric Chelle: pairing young Benjamin Fredrick with Calvin Bassey in central defense, and Akor Adams with Victor Osimhen in attack. These partnerships have been credited with transforming Nigeria's game, leading to eight goals in two matches, a scoring feat not achieved in a long time.

A standout performer was 20-year-old Benjamin Fredrick, on loan at Dender FC from Brentford. Despite his age, Fredrick played with remarkable authority and composure in a high-stakes World Cup play-off. Paired with Calvin Bassey, described as Nigeria's most complete defender, Fredrick imposed himself on the game, demonstrating strength in duels, composure on the ball, and confident positioning. He successfully kept Gabon's dangerous attacking duo, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Denis Bouanga, remarkably quiet. Fredrick's impressive display culminated in a late surging run that set up Osimhen's first goal, an intentional and intelligent delivery that split Gabon's defense. Nigeria legend Sunday Oliseh praised Fredrick as the "most influential player" against Gabon, even above two-goal hero Victor Osimhen, highlighting his positioning, pace, decisiveness, and simple play. Fellow defender Calvin Bassey also lauded Fredrick's "unbelievable" potential and urged Brentford to promote him to the first-team squad. Fredrick himself admitted that playing against the 36-year-old Aubameyang was a "huge lesson," describing the Gabon captain's movements as "crazy" and acknowledging the collective effort of his teammates.

The Akor Adams-Victor Osimhen partnership proved equally effective, unlocking a modern two-striker system that added new dimensions to Nigeria's attack. Since his debut, Adams has been excellent, scoring two goals in three games and complementing Osimhen by occupying defenders, pressing aggressively, and creating pockets of space. Against Gabon, this duo was directly involved in three of Nigeria's four goals, with Osimhen scoring two and Adams one. Adams's presence brought genuine relief to an attacking line that had for years relied solely on Osimhen, allowing the Galatasaray man to roam freely and attack channels without carrying the entire scoring burden. Nigeria looked dangerous again, with renewed attacking dimension.

Despite his eventual brace, Victor Osimhen experienced a frustrating first 90 minutes, missing several clear-cut opportunities, including a sitter midway through the second half and a big chance in the final minute of regular time. His teammate Akor Adams initially saved his blushes by scoring the opener, but Mario Lemina's deflected equalizer in stoppage time dragged Gabon level. However, Osimhen displayed immense resilience and a strong mentality. After apologizing to his teammates for his misses, he promised to "correct it" in extra time. He delivered on that promise, scoring two crucial goals in the additional period to seal the 4-1 victory. Captain William Troost-Ekong praised Osimhen's ability to keep his head in the game and his fighting spirit, noting that his performance was a "unifying" one for the team. Osimhen credited Benjamin Fredrick and substitute Chidozie Awaziem for providing the assists for his goals, emphasizing the importance of teamwork and the squad's strong mentality.

Other key performances included Wilfred Ndidi, who, despite an early yellow card in the sixth minute, managed the game masterfully, avoiding reckless tackles and even securing an assist. Stanley Nwabali's goalkeeping was also under scrutiny; having set such a high bar for himself with his performances, including at AFCON 2023, anything short of excellence now looks like an "off day," making him Nigeria's benchmark. Coach Eric Chelle's substitutions were spot-on, particularly bringing in Chidera Ejuke for Samuel Chukwueze, which resulted in Ejuke's goal in the 97th minute and further impact that showed Chelle's perfect reading of the game.

Alex Iwobi marked his 90th appearance for Nigeria in this match, drawing him level with Chelsea legend John Obi Mikel in fourth place on Nigeria's all-time appearance chart. William Troost-Ekong hailed Iwobi as a "leader and example" for his consistency and adaptability over a decade of service to the national team.

The match was not without controversy, as Gabon's coach Thierry Mouyouma expressed deep frustration with the officiating. He specifically criticized a lengthy VAR review that denied Gabon a penalty for a clear shirt pull on Aaron Appidangoyé by Bright Osayi-Samuel in Nigeria's box, an incomprehensible decision given VAR's purpose. Mouyouma acknowledged Nigeria's first-half dominance but felt the second half belonged to Gabon, and that individual errors in extra time proved costly. The defeat marked the end of World Cup hopes for key Gabonese players like Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Mario Lemina, with the team now shifting focus to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

Nigeria's victory sets up a decisive playoff final against DR Congo, who stunned Cameroon 1-0 in their semi-final. The winner of Sunday's final in Rabat will progress to a six-team intercontinental playoff in Mexico in March 2026, where the last two slots for the expanded 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the United States will be decided. Victor Osimhen has warned his teammates and fans that the clash against DR Congo will not be easy, urging them to give everything to reach the final. With their recent performance against Gabon, the Super Eagles, who have featured in six previous World Cups, remain firmly in the hunt for a seventh appearance, demonstrating the authority and unity needed for the tough climb ahead.