Nigeria’s Super Eagles will face Gabon in the semi-finals of the 2026 World Cup African play-offs.
The match, set for November in Morocco, follows Nigeria’s emphatic 4–0 win over Benin Republic.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles will battle Gabon in the semi-finals of the African section of the 2026 FIFA World Cup play-offs after the conclusion of group-stage qualifiers on Tuesday.
The Eagles confirmed their qualification earlier in the day with a 4–0 win over Benin Republic in Uyo, while Gabon secured second place in Group F following a 2–0 victory against Burundi. Ivory Coast topped that group after defeating Kenya.
Other teams joining the play-offs include DR Congo, who edged Sudan 1–0 to finish second in Group B behind Senegal, and Cameroon, who came second in Group D behind Cape Verde.
The four best runners-up from the nine African qualifying groups will compete in the play-offs, scheduled for November 13 to 16 in Morocco.
According to the pairing format, Nigeria, expected to be the highest-ranked side when FIFA releases new rankings on October 23, will face Gabon, who are the lowest-ranked of the four teams. The second semi-final will see Cameroon take on DR Congo.
Both semi-final matches will be played on November 13, with the winners meeting three days later in a single-leg final. The winner of the final will advance to the inter-confederation play-offs in March 2026 for a final shot at qualification for the World Cup, which will take place in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
All matches will be single-leg knockouts at a neutral venue in Morocco. If any game ends in a draw after 90 minutes, extra time and, if necessary, penalties will be used to decide the winner.
The Confederation of African Football said the mini-tournament offers the continent an additional route to the expanded 48-team World Cup.
Nine African nations have already booked direct tickets to the 2026 finals after winning their groups, while this play-off series will determine whether Africa secures one more spot through the inter-continental stage.
Nigeria’s dominant win over Benin earlier boosted morale and strengthened their ranking, setting up an exciting clash against Gabon as they push to return to the global stage after missing the last World Cup in Qatar.
