The Victorious Super Eagles of Nigeria will face Gabon in the semi-finals of the African play-offs for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, following the conclusion of the qualifying group stage on Tuesday.
Published by Charles Onah
The fixture was confirmed after Nigeria secured a commanding 4–0 victory over Benin Republic to seal second place in their qualifying group and progress as one of the four best runners-up across the continent.
Gabon, meanwhile, clinched their play-off berth by finishing runners-up in Group F after defeating Burundi 2–0. Their qualification was also aided by Ivory Coast’s win over Kenya, which ensured the Elephants topped the group.
In other results, DR Congo and Cameroon also advanced to the play-offs after finishing second in their respective groups. DR Congo edged Sudan 1–0 to claim the runners-up spot behind Senegal in Group B, while Cameroon finished second in Group D behind Cape Verde.
The four teams — Nigeria, Gabon, Cameroon, and DR Congo — will battle for one additional African slot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup to be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
According to the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the play-offs will be staged in Morocco from November 13 to 16. Nigeria, expected to remain the highest-ranked team among the four when the latest FIFA rankings are released on October 23, will face Gabon, the lowest-ranked side.
Cameroon will take on DR Congo in the other semi-final. Both matches are scheduled for November 13, with the winners meeting three days later in a single-leg final on November 16.
The overall winner of the mini-tournament will qualify for the inter-confederation play-offs in March 2026, where they will compete for one of the final spots at the expanded 48-team World Cup.
All matches in the African play-offs will be decided in single-leg ties. If the game ends in a draw after 90 minutes, extra time and, if necessary, penalty shoot-outs will determine the winner.
CAF said Morocco will host the entire play-off series in a neutral venue yet to be announced.
So far, nine African teams — the winners of each qualifying group — have already booked direct tickets to the 2026 World Cup. The play-offs will offer Africa a chance to secure one more place through the intercontinental route.
