KEY POINTS
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The Super Eagles will face Gabon in the World Cup play-offs.
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Cameroon and DR Congo meet in the second semi-final.
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The overall winner advances to the inter-confederation play-offs.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles will face Gabon in the semi-finals of the African section of the 2026 FIFA World Cup play-offs, following the conclusion of qualifying matches on Tuesday. The fixture sets up a compelling contest in Morocco, as both nations seek to edge closer to next year’s expanded World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
Super Eagles World Cup play-offs set for Morocco
The Super Eagles sealed their play-off spot with an emphatic 4–0 victory over Benin earlier in the day. Gabon, meanwhile, secured second place in Group F with a 2–0 win against Burundi, aided by Ivory Coast’s convincing defeat of Kenya to top the group. With Nigeria expected to retain their position as the highest-ranked African side among the four play-off teams when FIFA’s rankings are released on October 23, they will meet Gabon, the lowest-ranked of the lot.
In other results, DR Congo joined the mix after edging Sudan 1–0 to finish runners-up in Group B behind Senegal. Cameroon also advanced after placing second in Group D, trailing only Cape Verde. The four teams—Nigeria, Gabon, Cameroon, and DR Congo—will now battle for one remaining intercontinental slot reserved for Africa.
Gabon stand between Nigeria and final qualification
The Super Eagles World Cup play-offs semi-final against Gabon will be held on November 13, alongside the Cameroon–DR Congo tie. Winners of both games will meet three days later in a single-leg final that will determine Africa’s representative at the inter-confederation play-offs in March 2026.
All matches will be single-leg knockouts hosted in Morocco. If tied after 90 minutes, extra time and, if necessary, penalties will decide the outcome. The mini-tournament provides an additional route for Africa to secure a tenth berth at the 48-team World Cup, with nine nations already qualified directly through the group stage, according to Punch.
For Nigeria, this path offers a second chance to return to football’s grandest stage—one they’ll need to seize with focus and conviction.
