FIFA WORLD CUP Nigeria and DRC head into African playoff final
RABAT: Nigeria overcame the distraction of a strike over money to beat Gabon 4-1 in their World Cup African playoff semi-final in Rabat on Thursday but they needed extra time before running out comfortable victors.
Striker Akor Adams snapped up a shallow back pass from Gabon defender Aaron Appindangoye and caught goalkeeper Loyce Mbaba way out of his goal for an easy tap-in for Nigeria’s opening goal in the 78th minute.
But Mario Lemina snatched an 89th-minute equaliser to take the game into an additional 30 minutes of extra time. A goal from Chidera Ejuke and two from Victor Osimhen made sure of Nigeria’s progress to the playoff final in the Moroccan capital on Sunday.
Democratic Republic of Congo captain Chancel Mbemba snuck in at the back post to score a dramatic last-gasp winner for his team as they edged Cameroon 1-0 in the other semi-final.
Mbemba stole in unmarked to force home a corner from Brian Cipenga to secure a dramatic victory for his country and keep them on course for possible qualification to next year’s finals.
The playoffs are for the four best runners-up across the nine African qualifying groups that concluded last month with the winners all advancing to next year’s finals in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
The winners of the playoff in Morocco proceeds to represent Africa in March’s inter-confederation playoffs where the last two places for the expanded 48-team World Cup will be decided.
