Osimhen Vs Mbeumo: African Goal Kings Set For World Cup Showdown In Rabat

Two of Africa’s brightest football stars — Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen and Cameroon’s Bryan Mbeumo — are on a collision course for a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but only one can keep the dream alive.

The journey continues in Rabat, Morocco, where Nigeria face Gabon and Cameroon tackle DR Congo on Thursday in the semi-finals of the African play-offs. The winners will meet again on Sunday, also in Rabat, for a spot in next March’s intercontinental play-offs — the final gateway to the expanded 48-team World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

After the group stage ended last month, Algeria, Cape Verde, Egypt, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, and Tunisia sealed automatic qualification. Now, the four best runners-up — including Nigeria and Cameroon — get one last chance to join them.

Osimhen, fresh from a hat-trick against Benin that rescued Nigeria’s campaign, has been in electric form, also scoring a Champions League treble for Galatasaray to top the scoring charts.
“I love Victor. He’s the best striker in the world,” said Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle, who remains unbeaten in six competitive games.

But Gabon, led by Denis Bouanga and veteran Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, are no pushovers. Bouanga, a top contender for the 2025 African Player of the Year, has netted eight times in qualifying, while Aubameyang, now 36, is chasing a final World Cup appearance.

Over in Cameroon’s camp, Mbeumo has been in dazzling form for Manchester United, scoring four in his last four Premier League games and earning October’s Player of the Month award. His coach, Marc Brys, hopes that same spark fires up the Indomitable Lions in Morocco.

Cameroon — Africa’s most frequent World Cup participants with eight appearances — stumbled in the final group stage but remain dangerous. Their opponents, DR Congo, will miss injured winger Yoane Wissa, a key attacking outlet.

With Africa’s final ticket to the intercontinental play-offs at stake, Rabat is set for fireworks — and for either Osimhen or Mbeumo, the World Cup dream will edge one step closer to reality.