Nigeria is set to face Gabon in the semi-finals of the African playoffs for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as reported by PUNCH Online. The Super Eagles secured their spot after a commanding 4-0 win against Benin earlier in the day. Meanwhile, Gabon clinched second place in Group F with a 2-0 victory over Burundi, aided by Ivory Coast’s strong performance against Kenya, which secured their top position in the group.
The Democratic Republic of Congo also qualified, edging past Sudan with a 1-0 win to finish as runners-up in Group B behind Senegal. Cameroon joined them after finishing second in Group D, trailing Cape Verde.
These playoffs will include the four best second-placed teams from the nine African qualifying groups and are set to take place in Morocco from November 13 to 16. Nigeria is anticipated to retain its status as the highest-ranked African team when FIFA updates its rankings on October 23, and they will meet Gabon, the lowest-ranked of the four.
Cameroon and DR Congo will compete in the other semi-final match. Both semi-finals are scheduled for November 13, with the winners facing off in a decisive final three days later. The champion of this mini-tournament will proceed to the inter-confederation playoffs in March 2026, aiming for a spot in the World Cup finals to be held in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
The matches will be knockout rounds played as single-leg encounters at a location to be announced by CAF. Should the score be tied after regulation time, the game will go into 30 minutes of extra time, and if necessary, a penalty shootout will determine the victor. Morocco will host this event, providing Africa with an additional chance to secure a place in the expanded 48-team World Cup. All nine group winners from Africa have already gained direct entry to the finals, while the playoffs will decide if another representative can join them through the intercontinental pathway.
