Nigeria are expected to face Gabon in a World Cup qualifying play-off as they look to confirm their place at next summer’s tournament.
The Super Eagles made a shaky start to their qualification campaign, taking just three points from their first four outings, but a four-match unbeaten run, capped on Tuesday with a four-goal rout of Benin, has seen them secure a play-off berth, with South Africa claiming Group C’s automatic qualification slot.
Nigeria will be joined in the play-offs by Cameroon and the DR Congo, though Gabon, who have never qualified for the World Cup, are their most likely opponent.
Marseille striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, formerly of Chelsea, Arsenal, and Borussia Dortmund, is the Panthers' star man, though doubt was cast over his play-off involvement after he was sent off in a thrilling 4-3 defeat of Gambia last week.
Aubameyang scored all four for Gabon, cancelling out a brace from St Johnstone’s Adama Sidibeh and a third from Brighton’s Yankuba Minteh. In doing so, he became just the seventh man to score four goals in a single CAF World Cup qualifying match.
It was not quite a perfect outing for the 36-year-old, however, after he was sent off in the 85th minute. He was shown a pair of yellow cards for kicking and breaking a corner flag while celebrating a goal and shoving Alagie Saine.
Will Aubameyang be available to face Nigeria after suspension?
Aubameyang was handed a one-match suspension for the offence, and served his ban as Gabon beat Burundi 2-0 on Tuesday night in their final qualifying outing.
As such, he will be available for selection when the Panthers return to play in November.
Speaking after his quadruple against the Gambia, Aubameyang set his sights on sending his nation to football’s biggest stage.
He said: “We want to go to the World Cup and, to get there, we have to win games. I’m very motivated, and when you have the chance to go to the World Cup, you have to be even more motivated.
“I was effective, so I'm happy: four attempts, four goals. It was important for me to lead by example.”
