Nigeria’s Super Eagles will face Gabon in the semi-finals of the African zone play-offs for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, after the group stage concluded on Tuesday.
The three-time African champions sealed their play-off berth in style, thrashing Benin Republic 4–0 to finish second in their qualifying group. Gabon also advanced after a decisive 2–0 victory over Burundi, coupled with Ivory Coast’s win against Kenya, which lifted the Panthers into second place in Group F.
Elsewhere, DR Congo edged Sudan 1–0 to secure the runners-up spot behind Senegal in Group B, while Cameroon finished second in Group D after a narrow victory that pushed them past Angola. These four sides — Nigeria, Gabon, Cameroon, and DR Congo — will now battle for one last chance to reach the global stage.
The mini-tournament will take place in Morocco from November 13 to 16. According to the seeding format, Nigeria, expected to remain Africa’s highest-ranked side among the four, will face Gabon in the first semi-final, while Cameroon will take on DR Congo in the other fixture.
Both semi-finals will be played on November 13, with the winners advancing to a one-off final on November 16. The victor will then proceed to the inter-confederation play-offs in March 2026 for a final shot at World Cup qualification.
CAF is expected to announce the venues and kickoff times in the coming days. Africa’s nine group winners have already qualified directly, while the play-offs provide one final route for an additional African representative.
