Fulham defender Calvin Bassey says Benjamin Fredrick should be given a chance by English Premier League side Brentford after another dominant display for Nigeria against Gabon in the world cup qualifiers playoff, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Fredrick for the 5th game in a row for Nigeria was flawless and by far one of the best players for Nigeria. He kept celebrated African football star Pierre Emerick Aubameyang in check for the entire duration of the game which ended 4-1 in favour of Nigeria after extra time.

The 20 year old who was signed by Brentford two summers ago from Nigerian Academy Simoiben Football Academy is currently on loan to Belgium side FC Dender.

Bassey who is his central defence partner in the national team has seen enough to convince him that Fredrick should be given a chance at Brentford, where he was voted as the player’s player of the year for the U23 last season.

“He’s amazing. His potential is unbelievable and he’s a good kid. He wants to learn, he’s down to earth. He’s unbelievable and for me, I think Brentford should get him back in the first team because he’s so good. He’s unbelievable”, Bassey told Victor Modo after the game.

On scoring four goals for the second game running, Bassey credit the quality of the players in the team’s attack for the feat.

“We always had the quality. It’s amazing, of course, the pitch helped. We’ve always had goals in this team, look at the attack we have. It’s just about sometimes it comes off, sometimes it doesn’t.”

Pierre Emerick Aubameyang has praised Nigeria international defender Benjamin Fredrick for his performance in the Super Eagles against Gabon, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Aubameyang was on for the entire duration for Gabon who were thrashed 4-1 by Nigeria in the world cup qualifiers playoff in Morocco. Fredrick limited his impact all through the game that went into extra time with scores tied at 1-1.

20 year old Fredrick is on loan to Belgium side FC Dender from English Premier League side Brentford, and it was just his fifth competitive game for Nigeria with all coming in the world cup qualifiers.

Paired with Calvin Bassey, he didn’t lose a single duel and capped an impressive showing with an assist for the fourth goal scored by Victor Osimhen. He robbed Aubameyang off the ball before setting the goal.

Speaking briefly at the mix zone after the game, a disappointed Aubameyang gave thumbs up to the young defender. ” The kid is good and I wish him the best in his career”, he said while walking away after the game.

Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle has opened up on the secret of his team scoring eight goals in two consecutive games after yesterday’s 4-0 win over Gabon in the world cup qualifiers playoff, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Nigeria sealed a spot in the world cup qualifiers playoff with a 4-1 win over Gabon after extra time with both teams locked at 1-1 after regulation time.

It is the second time that the Nigerian team will score four goals in a game after achieving the same feat last month with a 4-0 win over Benin Republic in Uyo.

Reflecting on the turnaround, Chelle said his team has now switched their attention to the second game against Congo Dr on Sunday. He however explained that the goal run is a function of the players understanding his instructions better.

“I am very proud of the guys because they are “In the first 30 minutes, we were so good with the intensity, aggression and ball possession, while Gabon played on the counter,”

“We deserved this victory, I am happy for my players. They work together. If they win, they are together. If they lose, they are together.

“We did a lot of good things (vs Gabon), but bad things too. We have to correct some things for the second game but I am confident of my players and what they have done. I want us to do better in the second game (vs DR Congo).”

“In the first half we had many situations to score a goal, in the second half we changed the system and scored a goal, everything was good, but we made a little mistake in our positioning and they scored.

“We didn’t think we will go to extra time. They have improved mentally and technically and they understand what I want to do for them,” he added

Nigeria international defender Benjamin Fredrick says he encountered difficulties keeping Pierre Emerick Aubameyang in check in during Nigeria’s 4-1 win over Gabon in the world cup qualifiers playoff, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Fredrick kept the celebrated Gabonese forward quiet for the entire duration of the game. His fifth competitive game in the colours of Nigeria and he capped it with an assist for the fourth goal scored by Victor Osimhen.

Reflecting on the game, the 20 year old who is on loan to Belgium side FC Dender from English Premier League side Brentford said stopping the legendary forward was harder than he expected.

” Playing against Aubameyang was a huge lesson for me. It wasn’t easy like how you said it. His movements was crazy and it kept me running all the time. He can come from the left, right, central and also drop deep. It’s not easy keeping up with him”, Fredrick told OwnGoalNigeria.com in an exclusive conversation.

” I want to thank my teammates as well because it was not just me but everybody in the team. Even the ones who were on the bench also deserve praises because they could do as well if not better but we all can’t play at the same time”, he said.

The top striker of the senior national team of Nigeria Victor Osimhen has opened up on how he felt after missing a clear chance that should have given Nigeria a 2-1 win over Gabon before extra time in the world cup qualifiers playoff, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Osimhen was put through on goal by Wilfred Ndidi and with the goalkeeper at his mercy, he surprisingly sent his effort wide to drag the game into extra time.

He made atonement for the miss with a brace after Chidera Ejuke had put the team ahead. It sealed a comprehensive 4-1 win for Nigeria, who will now face Congo Dr for the African ticket to be at the Intercontinental playoff.

“As a striker, sometimes I score a goal that no one believes; but I could also sometimes lose the one that people think I’m going to score. That doesn’t take away what I can do,” Osimhen told Cali Sport in Rabat, Morocco.

“I’m a professional player, and I’ve been in the game for a long time. I’ve played against some very intimidating teams where I miss good opportunities. Sometimes, it happens like that.

“I always have this mentality that, even if I miss a good opportunity, so long as the game keeps going on, I will try to make sure I correct it by still scoring later.

“That’s what I always tell my teammates. We have to keep trying. So, I first told them I’m sorry and then I promised that I was going to correct it in extra time.

“I’m happy that I did it, and kudos to my teammates who gave me the assists to score the two goals. I’m also happy about the mentality of the team, all of us,” Osimhen said.

The senior national team of Nigeria booked a spot in the final of the world cup qualifiers playoff with a comprehensive 4-1 win over Gabon, which was achieved in extra time with top striker Victor Osimhen scoring a brace.

Jerome Akor and Chidera Ejuke got the other goals for Nigeria, who were pegged back when Mario Lemina levelled scores for the Gabonese.

OwnGoalNigeria.com rate the players on parade for Nigeria in the game that sealed a game against Dr. Congo in the final following their 1-0 win over Cameroon. The winner will represent Africa at the Intercontinental playoff in Mexico next year, where two tickets to the next world cup will be available.

Stanley Nwabali – Guilty of making some decisions with the ball at his feet that almost proved costly. He was however not tested enough and wasn’t at fault for the goal conceded after a wicked deflection left him with no chance. Commanded his area really well…..7.5/10

Bright Osayi-Samuel – Fortunate not to have given away a penalty with scores at 0-0 after a shirt pull in the box. Unlucky to see the ball deflected off his knees for Gabon’s equaliser. He wasn’t at his best…..6.5/10

Zaidu Sanusi – Won all his duels and looked pretty assured in defending and also going forward when he needed to. A big part of why the team defender really well…..8/10

Benjamin Fredrick – Easily the best player on the pitch for Nigeria after capping an impressive performance with an assist for Osimhen for the third goal. Kept one of the most decorated player in African football in Pierre Emerick Aubameyang quiet for the entire duration of the game…..9/10

Calvin Bassey – Another faultless performance in the heart of Super Eagles defence. He has formed a really good partnership with Fredrick in the heart of the defence…… 8.5/10

Wilfred Ndidi – -Had one of his best games in recent times with a commanding performance with an assist as the icing. He will be a huge miss in the final against Dr. Congo after picking up a booking…..8/10

Alex Iwobi – Bossed the first half with line breaking passes but dropped off in the second half and was guilty of giving the ball away. Still the team’s most creative player…..7.5/10

Samuel Chukwueze – Didn’t play to the level he did against Benin Republic where he grabbed two assists. Likely to be dropped for the final against Dr. Congo……. 7/10

Ademola Lookman – A very subdued performance from the reigning Africa player of the year. Still looked very rusty and rushed his decision in key moments…..6/10

Jerome Akor – Showed very good awareness to score the opener for Nigeria after latching onto a loose pass. Put in a very good shift and looked certain to nail a spot in the final as the perfect foil to Osimhen in attack…..8/10

Victor Osimhen – He stole the show with a brace in the second half of extra time, but was largely why the game went into extra time after his miss with the goalkeeper at his mercy with last kick in regulation time……9/10

Substitutes;

Moses Simon – Brought stability to the team’s shape and was unlucky not to get a goal in extra time……7/10

Frank Onyeka – The tank like he is called was ever present in the midfield, winning balls and driving the team forward…… 7.5/10

Childera Ejuke – Showed his presence with a well taken goal to give Nigeria the lead in extra time. He was really lively and took the game to Gabon with ease, composure and confidence….. 8/10

The senior national team of Nigeria will face Congo Dr in the final of the world cup qualifiers playoff after a 1-0 win over Cameroon in the second semi final of the mini tournament in Morocco, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Nigeria booked a spot in the final with a comprehensive 4-1 win over Gabon in the other semi final with a Victor Osimhen brace after goals from Jerome Akor and Chidera Ejuke.

Congo Dr won the second semi final 1-0 thanks to a late goal from Chancel Mbemba in the first minute of time added on.

A very boring first half saw both teams tied at O-0 and just when it seems like extra time will once again be needed to provide a winner, Mbemba headed home what ended as the winner in the first minute of time added on from a corner kick.

The goal sent Cameroon out of the race to be at the 2026 World Cup while Dr. Congo marched on to the final.

They will now face Nigeria on Sunday for a spot to represent Africa at the Intercontinental playoff next year in March, where there will be two tickets up for grabs for teams who made it to the final.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle has explained the secret of his team’s 4-1 win over Gabon in the first semi final of the world cup qualifiers playoff taking place in Morocco, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Top striker Victor Osimhen fired a brace for Nigeria in extra time after goals from Jerome Akor and Chidera Ejuke had given Nigeria a 2-1 lead.

Speaking after the game, Chelle revealed that it was passion that drove his team to the big win, that has now taken to within one game of making it to the intercontinental playoff in Mexico next year.

“I am very proud of these guys (players) because every time they are focused on what I asked, what I want and it show what I want. The word today was the passion, during my speech it was about passion it was the working together to have the same thing”, the coach said in an audio made public by the official media channel of the Super Eagles.

He however said focus has now shifted to the second game against whoever they will meet in the final between Cameroon and Congo Dr, while also refusing to be dragged into the controversy that saw the players go on strike over unpaid bonuses.

“So they did it in today’s game but we have a game in two days maybe after the game we can smile. Since I came we try to work, to create an identity. The sport project is very important, the game project too”, he further explained.

“Like I said the most important is for our team to create an identity. The identity is how we play in defence and how we play in offense. So this is why we try every time to improve at every FIFA window. So now these guys they improve mentally, technically and they understand what I want to do for them”.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The coach of the senior national team of Gabon Thierry Mouyouma has explained why his team suffered a heavy defeat to the Super Eagles of Nigeria in the first semi final of the world cup qualifiers playoff, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Mouyouma watched on as his team collapse to the superior super power of the Nigerian team who were 4-1 winners and also earned a spot in the final of the tournament.

Explaining the defeat, he lamented the poor way his team defended against a rampant Nigerian team , who were sharper than his team in both boxes.

” We were not good enough in the opposite box and didn’t defend well in our box, something our opponents did and scored. The game was decided by little margins and the scoreline didn’t reflect how well we competed against one of the best teams in Africa, when it comes to attack”, the coach said.

He said they have learnt lesson from this game to take into their next major engagement which is the AFCON, although he lamented the fact that their dream of creating an upset by picking a ticket to the continental playoff in Mexico next year is over.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The senior national team of Nigeria delivered a commanding extra time performance to thrash Gabon 4-1 in the first semi final of the world cup qualifiers playoff in Morocco, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Guilty of missing so many chances in the first half, the Super Eagles took a second half lead through Jerome Akor and looked set to see off the game, before Mario Lemina profited from a wicked deflection to draw Gabon level with seven minutes left to play.

Victor Osimhen had a glorious chance to put the game to bed with the final touch in regulation time, but with the goalkeeper at his mercy he surprisingly sent his effort wide..

Nigeria wasted no time in showing their superiority in extra time with Childera Ejuke at the end of a well weighted pass from Wilfred Ndidi to put Nigeria 2-1 up.

Benjamin Fredrick enhanced his growing reputation with a confident run after stealing the ball from Pierre Emerick Aubameyang to set up Osimhen his first of the night.

Osimhen grabbed his second of the game in the second half of extra time ending any hope of a comeback for Gabon.

They will now play the winner of the second semi final between Cameroon and Congo Dr later today.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman