…Leopard of Congo Shocks Indomitable Lions of Cameroon With a Lone Goal Victory.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria left it late to ride the back of Panthers of Gabon into the finals of the African qualifier of the world cup play off with a sensational 4-1 win on Thursday night in Rabat Morocco.
Servilla’s forward Akor Adams got a loose ball in the 78th minute, sold a dummy to onrushing goalkeeper but Osimhen’s team mate at Galatasara. Mario Lamina pounced on a defensive blunder in the box and a deflection beat Nwabali for an equalizer in the 89th minute.
Gabon became rough and almost broke the leg of Osimhen but South African ref Tom Abogile who was in the center of Protest from Nigerian football fans flashed three vital yellows to Ndidi for tripping a player; Aubameyang for dissent and Osimhen for rough play.
Substitute Chidera Ejuke got a pass at the periphery of the penalty box, sold a dummy to the Gabonese Goalie for 2-1 to Nigeria before Osimhen came with his brace scored in 102 minute and 112 minute.
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In the other semifinal, Leopard of Congo captain, Chancel Bemba shocked the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon with a montage goal from Brian Cipenga’s in swinger corner kick, selling a brilliant dummy to Goalkeeper Andre Onana and his defender to get the precious goal in added minute of 90+1.
Cameroon hold the enviable record of the greatest African team to have appeared at the world cup finals eight times and Congo only appeared once at the 1994 edition when they were still Zaire but before a crowd of 10,000 in Rabat soccer ‘bigmanism’ did not count.
Nigeria ranked 41 in the world had met Gabon ranked 77 in the world 9 times with Nigeria earning five wins, three draws and a loss. Both teams met at the world cup qualifiers twice on 9th October 2004 which Nigeria drew 1-1 in Libreville and on 25th March 2005 which Nigeria hosted and won.
Gabon has never been to the world cup finals but has appeared at the Continental platform of AFCON 9 times being stopped at the quarterfinals twice in 1996 and 2012
Nigeria has been to the world cup finals 6 times stopped at the round of 16 matches three times in 1994, 1998 and 2014. She has been to AFCON finals 21 times lifting the title thrice in 1980, 1994 and 2013.
Gabon relied on star boy and captain, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who is making his 84th caps for the country with 39 goals as the country’s highest goal scorer and had scored four goals at this qualifier against Scorpions of Gambia.
Nigeria will now meet DR Congo at 8pm on Sunday, 16th October for CAF to know which country joins other continental play off qualifiers for another shot to be at the world cup finals next year in the Americas.
Eniola Olatunji reporting for Patmos Media Line.
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