Nigeria’s Super Eagles will battle Gabon in the CAF World Cup qualifying playoff, set to hold between November 13 and 16 in Morocco.
In the second playoff tie, Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions will square off against the Democratic Republic of Congo. The winners from both matches will meet in a decisive final in Morocco, with the overall champion advancing to the Six-Team Intercontinental Playoff. That tournament, scheduled for March 2026 in the Mexican cities of Guadalajara and Monterrey, will determine the last two spots for the World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
The Super Eagles, led by Coach Eric Chelle, sealed their playoff spot with a resounding 4-0 victory over Benin in Uyo on Tuesday. The result saw Nigeria finish second in Group C, level on 17 points with South Africa but ahead of Benin on goal difference.
Under CAF’s revised ranking system for the best second-placed teams—implemented after Eritrea withdrew from the qualifiers—Nigeria amassed 15 points with a goal difference of +7, edging Burkina Faso, who had the same points but a +6 difference.
The African playoff winner will join Bolivia, New Caledonia, two Central American teams, and one Asian side in the Intercontinental Playoff, where two nations will secure qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
