Super Eagles captain, William Troost-Ekong, says he is confident Nigeria can keep Gabon’s star forward, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, in check when both sides meet in the semi-final of the 2026 World Cup African playoffs on Thursday in Morocco.

Nigeria, Gabon, Cameroon, and DR Congo reached this stage as the best second-placed teams from the qualifying rounds. The two winners from Thursday’s fixtures will meet in Sunday’s final, with the overall victor moving on to the intercontinental playoffs set for March 2026 in Mexico.

Speaking ahead of the game, Troost-Ekong acknowledged Aubameyang’s quality but said the Super Eagles are ready for the challenge.

“Gabon is a strong team. Aubameyang continues to lead from the front, causing problems for defenders. I’ve played against him in Saudi Arabia, and I know what he brings. In Africa, you can’t underestimate any team, and we certainly won’t do that with Gabon,” the Nigerian captain told Olympic Channel.

Aubameyang, 36, remains Gabon’s biggest threat, having scored seven goals in five qualifying matches. The experienced forward, who previously played for Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund, now represents Olympique Marseille in the French Ligue 1.