AFCON 2025
The magnitude of Thursday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup play-off semi-final against Gabon is not lost on the Super Eagles, as midfielder Alex Iwobi zeroed in on the primary threat: star striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
This match is a high-stakes, one-off knockout game, with the winner moving a step closer to the final intercontinental play-off round and the World Cup proper.
For Nigeria, neutralizing the 36-year-old Olympic Marseille forward is paramount. Aubameyang has been instrumental for the Panthers, racking up seven goals in nine appearances during the qualifying series.
Iwobi, who knows the Gabon captain well from their days at Arsenal, acknowledged the danger and admitted the task is daunting:
“He’s getting on, but you wouldn’t think that. He’s a youthful guy,” Iwobi told BBC Sport.
He humorously concluded: “I don’t know how we’re going to lock him up.”
The Super Eagles’ defense will need to figure that out quickly if they hope to progress and keep their World Cup dreams alive.
