Gabon captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will be available for selection when his country faces Nigeria in the upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifying play-offs, despite being sent off in their previous match for an overzealous goal celebration.
The 36-year-old Marseille striker, who has enjoyed stellar spells with Arsenal, Chelsea, and Borussia Dortmund, delivered a history-making performance in Gabon’s thrilling 4–3 win over Gambia, scoring all four goals to become just the seventh player to hit a quadruple in a CAF World Cup qualifier.
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However, his night of brilliance turned chaotic in the closing minutes when he was shown a red card for an exuberant celebration that saw him kick and snap a corner flag, followed by a brief altercation with Gambian defender Alagie Saine.
Aubameyang subsequently served a one-match suspension during Gabon’s 2–0 victory over Burundi, clearing him to feature in the high-stakes November play-off clash against Nigeria.
Meanwhile, the Super Eagles secured their play-off berth in style, thrashing Benin Republic 4–0 to cap off a strong recovery after a sluggish start to their qualification campaign.
Despite missing the automatic ticket, claimed by South Africa, Nigeria remains firmly in the race for a spot at next summer’s World Cup.
Gabon, seeking their first-ever World Cup qualification, are among the potential opponents awaiting Nigeria, alongside Cameroon and DR Congo.
Speaking after his four-goal heroics, Aubameyang underlined his commitment to leading the Panthers to history.
“We want to go to the World Cup, and to get there, we must win games,” he said. “I’m very motivated — four attempts, four goals. It was important to lead by example. The dream is alive.”
