Osimhen, Mbeumo potential key figures in African World Cup play-offs

Prominent African forwards Victor Osimhen from Nigeria and Bryan Mbeumo from Cameroon aspire to participate in the 2026 World Cup, yet just one will achieve that goal.

On Thursday, Nigeria will take on Gabon while Cameroon confronts the Democratic Republic of Congo in Rabat for the semi-finals of Africas qualification play-offs aiming for the international event.

The victors will compete again on Sunday in the same Moroccan city, with an opportunity to enter the inter-continental play-offs scheduled for next March at stake.

The African representative will join two squads from the Central America and Caribbean area, along with Bolivia, New Caledonia, and either Iraq or the UAE, as two spots in the World Cup remain available.

Nigeria stands as strong favourites, and Cameroon as marginal favourites, to advance to the final and press on towards becoming one of the 48 teams for the enlarged tournament across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Following the conclusion of a 10-round African qualification phase last month, teams such as Algeria, Cape Verde, Egypt, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, and Tunisia earned direct spots as group leaders.

At present, the top four second-placed teams receive another opportunity, where Osimhen and Mbeumo might prove pivotal in determining which nation edges nearer to securing Africas 10th presence at the finals.

Osimhen claimed a hat-trick versus Benin during a 4-0 victory in the concluding group match last month, allowing Nigeria to overtake Burkina Faso on goal difference for the last second-place position.

Turning to the Champions League, he delivered yet another treble last week playing for Galatasaray against Ajax Amsterdam, and leads the scoring charts with six goals.

"I admire Victor greatly. He ranks as the finest forward globally," states Eric Chelle, the Ivory Coast native leading the Super Eagles.

"The challenge in Morocco will prove tough," remarked the strategist, who has recorded four victories and two draws in official games since assuming control.

Formidable Gabon pair

Despite Gabon holding the strongest performance among the four second-placed sides with eight triumphs and one draw, they sit 36 spots lower than Nigeria in global rankings and rank as the least likely to progress among the contenders.

However, should Osimhen and Ademola Lookman, recipients of the past two African Player of the Year honours, forge an effective attacking alliance, Gabon can counter with their own potent partnership.

Denis Bouanga, based in Los Angeles, features among 10 candidates for the 2025 African Player of the Year award after netting eight goals in World Cup qualifiers.

The experienced Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Marseille struck seven times during qualifying, and at 36 years old, views this as possibly his final shot at World Cup involvement.

"We have integrated numerous fresh talents, and the squad now possesses a robust foundation. Gabon has the potential for remarkable accomplishments," comments Bouanga.

In the meantime, Mbeumo has found the net four times in his most recent four outings for Manchester United, aiding the Red Devils in a five-game unbeaten streak in the Premier League.

The 26-year-old ex-Brentford forward earned player of the month accolades for October in the worlds most popular domestic competition.

Marc Brys, the Belgium-born manager of Cameroon, anticipates that Mbeumo will bring his sharp finishing from England to Morocco and guide the Indomitable Lions into the final.

Cameroon has reached the World Cup eight times, setting an African benchmark, though they trailed surprise entrants Cape Verde by four points in Group D.

Requiring full points from their closing group fixture at home against Angola to challenge Cape Verde, they fell short in a goalless draw.

World rankings place Cameroon and DR Congo just six positions apart, with the Congolese missing injured Newcastle United forward Yoane Wissa.

The Congolese appeared poised for a group-topping finish until they squandered a two-goal advantage in a defeat to Senegal on home soil.